Banned For One Week

@mugtech

  A moderator informed me the post was off topic and political,

But funny nevertheless.🤣

        Just saw today that the dept.  of Interior changed the name to Gulf of America and changed the mountain in Alaska back to Mount Mckinley.  He was a big time protectionist tarrif guy when he was in the House of Representatives.

hint! the world doesnt revolve around american politics

nor do the majority of expats care about it,, must be difficult for you to understand that

hint! the world doesnt revolve around american politics
nor do the majority of expats care about it,, must be difficult for you to understand that - @Agg Coolabah

I understand it very well, do not care what Americans or foreigners say about it, just try to be entertained.

Agg Coolabah said . . .hint! the world doesnt revolve around american politics
nor do the majority of expats care about it,, must be difficult for you to understand that

************************

Wait till Trump buys Australia.

Golly Bob, He and his buddies can't afford Greenland,,,,,, Australia? Grow up and worry about your own country going sideways sadly.

@ Agg Coolabah

Many here think the world resolves around themselves with closed eyes, reality? Eventually it arrives to aghast onlookers and the penny finally drops.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

Golly Bob, He and his buddies can't afford Greenland,,,,,, Australia? Grow up and worry about your own country going sideway

Cheers, Steve. - @bigpearl

        Some of us take Bob more seriously than others

            OMHO

some truly sad seppos here why are you in the philippines if americans politics is so great, isnt that  the reason you are here to get away from that garbage

this thread is the reason why most expats  wont to stay away from other expats and enjoy the Philippines and its people

ps its only the seppos who carry on with this political garbage  not any other  expats  carry on about their politics in their country, americans really need to grow up

some truly sad seppos here why are you in the philippines if americans politics is so great, isnt that the reason you are here to get away from that garbage
this thread is the reason why most expats wont to stay away from other expats and enjoy the Philippines and its people - @Agg Coolabah

LOL Agg, not heard Seppo's for a very long time and at times can be very apt. No need to go further.

Cheers, Steve.

@Agg Coolabah

Give it a rest dude. I am an American expat who hangs out with Australian, UK and German expats and they are all constantly bitching about they’re countries politicians and political shortcomings.

@Agg Coolabah
Give it a rest dude. I am an American expat who hangs out with Australian, UK and German expats and they are all constantly bitching about they’re countries politicians and political shortcomings. - @Morgacj200424

Exactly why I keep away from the expats that share the beach with us. Full of themselves and the seppos constantly bring politics and religion into the conversation,,,,,,, wears very thin or me an Aussie plebian enjoying the culture and people in my adopted country, no need for the crap, distance works well.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve

    Just saw today that the dept. of Interior changed the name to Gulf of America and changed the mountain in Alaska back to Mount Mckinley. He was a big time protectionist tarrif guy when he was in the House of Representatives. - @mugtech

A few words on the highly successful McKinley who took the US from a depression state to prosperity in his time. As with Trump, he bucked the liberal AND libertarian view that tariffs were immoral instead considering them to be a resource to be exploited:

""A tariff which protects American labor and industry and provides ample revenues has been written in public law. We have lower interest and higher wages; more money and fewer mortgages. The world's markets have been opened to American products, which go now where they have never gone before. We have passed from a bond-issuing to a bond-paying Nation; from a Nation of borrowers to a Nation of lenders; from a deficiency in revenue to a surplus; from fear to confidence; from enforced idleness to profitable employment. The public faith has been upheld; public order has been maintained".

"William McKinley's life and presidency was cut short by an assassin, but in a few short years, he took the nation from an acute economic depression to prosperity. Like President Trump has stated, he is one of the most under-rated presidents. William McKinley was known as the "Napoleon of Protection",

Sounds like the kind of guy you name a mountain after, just to piss off the globalists.

McKinleys, and Trump's purpose was/is not protectionism (a sinful violation of free traders).

In the end it was reciprocal trade that he was after. William McKinley showed us that tariffs can be a powerful path to a more prosperous and wealthier America.

*****Sounds like something worth trying to me. It has to be an improvement over the policies of the senile one's handlers.*****

Sorry to Mr eggshell for talking USA politics...not really 😆

hint! the world doesnt revolve around american politics nor do the majority of expats care about it,, - @Agg Coolabah

Wrong, my friend

America, and their politics, matters to the world.

For one example, here's Mitch McConnell today ..

https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases

Press Releases: January 24, 2025

McConnell Comments on Hegseth Nomination

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement today on the nomination of Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense:

“The most consequential cabinet official in any Administration is the Secretary of Defense. In the face of the gravest threats to U.S. national security interests since World War II, this position is even more important today.

“Major adversaries are working closer together to undermine U.S. interests around the world.  And America’s military capabilities and defense industrial capacity are increasingly insufficient to deter or prevail in major conflict with China or Russia, especially given the real risk of simultaneous challenges from other adversaries like Iran or North Korea.

“Stewardship of the United States Armed Forces, and of the complex bureaucracy that exists to support them, is a massive and solemn responsibility.

At the gravest moments, under the weight of this public trust, even the most capable and well-qualified leaders to set foot in the Pentagon have done so with great humility – from George Marshall harnessing American enterprise and Atlantic allies for the Cold War, to Caspar Weinberger orchestrating the Reagan build-up, to Bob Gates earning the wartime trust of two Commanders-in-Chief, of both parties.

“Mere desire to be a ‘change agent’ is not enough to fill these shoes. And ‘dust on boots’ fails even to distinguish this nominee from multiple predecessors of the last decade. Nor is it a precondition for success. Secretaries with distinguished combat experience and time in the trenches have failed at the job.

“Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.

“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been.

“The United States faces coordinated aggression from adversaries bent on shattering the order underpinning American security and prosperity. In public comments and testimony before the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Hegseth did not reckon with this reality.

“President Trump has rightly called on NATO allies to spend more on our collective defense. But the nominee who would have been responsible for leading that effort wouldn’t even commit to growing America’s defense investment beyond the low bar set by the Biden Administration’s budget requests.

“In his testimony before the Committee, Mr. Hegseth provided no substantial observations on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines against a Chinese attack, or even whether he believes the United States should do so.

He failed, for that matter, to articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing with the gravest long-term threat emanating from the PRC.

“Absent, too, was any substantive discussion of countering our adversaries’ alignment with deeper alliance relationships and more extensive defense industrial cooperation of our own.

“This, of course, is due to change. As the 29th Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegseth will be immediately tested by ongoing conflicts caused by Russian aggression in Europe and Iranian-backed terror in the Middle East.

He will have to grapple with an unfinished FY25 appropriations process that – without his intervention – risks further harming the readiness of our forces.

“By all accounts, brave young men and women join the military with the understanding that it is a meritocracy. This precious trust endures only as long as lawful civilian leadership upholds what must be a firewall between servicemembers and politics.

The Biden Administration failed at this fundamental task. But the restoration of ‘warrior culture’ will not come from trading one set of culture warriors for another.

“The single most important way for Secretary Hegseth to demonstrate his professed devotion to America’s warfighters will be to equip them – urgently – to deter aggression… and rebuild the defense industrial capacity to restock the depleted arsenal of democracy.

In this cause, he will find willing partners on the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, which will expect and receive his candid testimony.

“I wish Secretary Hegseth great success, and I look forward to working closely with him to restore American hard power. Every member of the uniformed services will be looking to him for decisive, principled, and nonpartisan leadership.”

###

Permalink: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public … of-defense

bigpearl said . . . . Golly Bob, He and his buddies can't afford Greenland,,,,,, Australia?

************************

It's costing Denmark $511 million USD each year to support Greenland. Why not just buy Denmark?

By Golly Bigpearl, Australia's gross national product was only 446 Billion USD in 2024, that's only a trifle more than Elon Musks net worth. (Trifle equals $10 Billion USD).

Careful, Elon might buy Australia.

Hell, you have more Kangaroos than People in Australia, so what would Elon do with all those Kangaroos?

hint! the world doesnt revolve around american politics nor do the majority of expats care about it,, - @Agg Coolabah

Wrong, my friend

America, and their politics, matters to the world.

For one example, here's Mitch McConnell today ..

https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases

Press Releases: January 24, 2025

McConnell Comments on Hegseth Nomination

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, issued the following statement today on the nomination of Pete Hegseth to serve as Secretary of Defense:


“The most consequential cabinet official in any Administration is the Secretary of Defense. In the face of the gravest threats to U.S. national security interests since World War II, this position is even more important today.

“Major adversaries are working closer together to undermine U.S. interests around the world. And America’s military capabilities and defense industrial capacity are increasingly insufficient to deter or prevail in major conflict with China or Russia, especially given the real risk of simultaneous challenges from other adversaries like Iran or North Korea.

“Stewardship of the United States Armed Forces, and of the complex bureaucracy that exists to support them, is a massive and solemn responsibility.

At the gravest moments, under the weight of this public trust, even the most capable and well-qualified leaders to set foot in the Pentagon have done so with great humility – from George Marshall harnessing American enterprise and Atlantic allies for the Cold War, to Caspar Weinberger orchestrating the Reagan build-up, to Bob Gates earning the wartime trust of two Commanders-in-Chief, of both parties.

“Mere desire to be a ‘change agent’ is not enough to fill these shoes. And ‘dust on boots’ fails even to distinguish this nominee from multiple predecessors of the last decade. Nor is it a precondition for success. Secretaries with distinguished combat experience and time in the trenches have failed at the job.

“Effective management of nearly 3 million military and civilian personnel, an annual budget of nearly $1 trillion, and alliances and partnerships around the world is a daily test with staggering consequences for the security of the American people and our global interests.

“Mr. Hegseth has failed, as yet, to demonstrate that he will pass this test. But as he assumes office, the consequences of failure are as high as they have ever been.

“The United States faces coordinated aggression from adversaries bent on shattering the order underpinning American security and prosperity. In public comments and testimony before the Armed Services Committee, Mr. Hegseth did not reckon with this reality.

“President Trump has rightly called on NATO allies to spend more on our collective defense. But the nominee who would have been responsible for leading that effort wouldn’t even commit to growing America’s defense investment beyond the low bar set by the Biden Administration’s budget requests.

“In his testimony before the Committee, Mr. Hegseth provided no substantial observations on how to defend Taiwan or the Philippines against a Chinese attack, or even whether he believes the United States should do so.

He failed, for that matter, to articulate in any detail a strategic vision for dealing with the gravest long-term threat emanating from the PRC.

“Absent, too, was any substantive discussion of countering our adversaries’ alignment with deeper alliance relationships and more extensive defense industrial cooperation of our own.

“This, of course, is due to change. As the 29th Secretary of Defense, Mr. Hegseth will be immediately tested by ongoing conflicts caused by Russian aggression in Europe and Iranian-backed terror in the Middle East.

He will have to grapple with an unfinished FY25 appropriations process that – without his intervention – risks further harming the readiness of our forces.

“By all accounts, brave young men and women join the military with the understanding that it is a meritocracy. This precious trust endures only as long as lawful civilian leadership upholds what must be a firewall between servicemembers and politics.

The Biden Administration failed at this fundamental task. But the restoration of ‘warrior culture’ will not come from trading one set of culture warriors for another.

“The single most important way for Secretary Hegseth to demonstrate his professed devotion to America’s warfighters will be to equip them – urgently – to deter aggression… and rebuild the defense industrial capacity to restock the depleted arsenal of democracy.

In this cause, he will find willing partners on the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, which will expect and receive his candid testimony.

“I wish Secretary Hegseth great success, and I look forward to working closely with him to restore American hard power. Every member of the uniformed services will be looking to him for decisive, principled, and nonpartisan leadership.”

###

Permalink: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public … of-defense - @PalawOne

What makes you think that a seasoned careet politician like McConnell has any standing to criticize a special forces veteran who attended Harvard and Princeton and whose only crime is being too young to have adopted sponsors on the military industrial good old boy's network like the DEI hire Austin who oreceded him?

I am American and quite familiar with USA politics and believe me, this is raw politics. McConnell is fighting to his last gasp to take down Trump any way he possibly can because he does not want the MAGA crowd to be in control amongst other reasons. A little late for that lol since the American people already spoke. McConnell was not even voted in again as majority leader; he knows he is finished but he certainly knows how to to make an elegant statement of sour grapes

I suppose he documents this bullshit in support of his "legacy" which will likely remember him only in a negative sense as a RINO enemy of the most popular Republican in America, one who received 75 million votes. USA media is paying scant attention to this.

Actually, McConnell doesn't give a *damn* about the runnings of the Defense Department except as they might financially benefit him and his cronies in the military industries, an unholy relationship that Eisenhower warned about and something which Hegseth is determined to bring to an inglorious end.

  Just saw today that the dept. of Interior changed the name to Gulf of America and changed the mountain in Alaska back to Mount Mckinley. He was a big time protectionist tarrif guy when he was in the House of Representatives. - @mugtech
A few words on the highly successful McKinley who took the US from a depression state to prosperity in his time. As with Trump, he bucked the liberal AND libertarian view that tariffs were immoral instead considering them to be a resource to be exploited:
""A tariff which protects American labor and industry and provides ample revenues has been written in public law. We have lower interest and higher wages; more money and fewer mortgages. The world's markets have been opened to American products, which go now where they have never gone before. We have passed from a bond-issuing to a bond-paying Nation; from a Nation of borrowers to a Nation of lenders; from a deficiency in revenue to a surplus; from fear to confidence; from enforced idleness to profitable employment. The public faith has been upheld; public order has been maintained".

"William McKinley's life and presidency was cut short by an assassin, but in a few short years, he took the nation from an acute economic depression to prosperity. Like President Trump has stated, he is one of the most under-rated presidents. William McKinley was known as the "Napoleon of Protection",

Sounds like the kind of guy you name a mountain after, just to piss off the globalists.

McKinleys, and Trump's purpose was/is not protectionism (a sinful violation of free traders).

In the end it was reciprocal trade that he was after. William McKinley showed us that tariffs can be a powerful path to a more prosperous and wealthier America.

*****Sounds like something worth trying to me. It has to be an improvement over the policies of the senile one's handlers.*****

Sorry to Mr eggshell for talking USA politics...not really 😆 - @danfinn

The tariff amounts were reduced considerably before he became president.  People in Alaska referred to the original name long before Obama changed it officially..  Old New York was once New Amsterdam, why they changed it I can't say, people just like it better that way.

bigpearl said . . . . Golly Bob, He and his buddies can't afford Greenland,,,,,, Australia?
************************
It's costing Denmark $511 million USD each year to support Greenland. Why not just buy Denmark?

By Golly Bigpearl, Australia's gross national product was only 446 Billion USD in 2024, that's only a trifle more than Elon Musks net worth. (Trifle equals $10 Billion USD).

Careful, Elon might buy Australia.

Hell, you have more Kangaroos than People in Australia, so what would Elon do with all those Kangaroos? - @Enzyte Bob

Gotta remember in Randy Newman's Political Science he says" They all hate us anyhow, let's drop the big one now. We'll save Australia, don't want to hurt no kangaroo.  We'll build a North American amusement park there.  They got surfing too"

@mugtech

The tariff amounts were reduced considerably before he became president.

That I would know little about althoughif the idea is to use tariffs as a negotiating lever the concept of zero or at least equal, reciprocal tariffs would be progress. If tariffs were reduced perhaps the negotiations worked.

  People in Alaska referred to the original name long before Obama changed it officially..

Denali. A GM SUV was named after it and when I considered buying one I never even knew what Denali meant. To the unscheduled it is a meaningless name. McKinley to Denali is like Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. I never bought it.

I grew up in Wisconsin where most places seem to have American Indian names, that is, except for anything with a French influence such as Lac du Mor, Fondulac, Marquette. Praise du Chien, while I was born in Saukvillle and raised in Wauwatosa  a suburb of Milwaukee. My first job as an engineer was in Manitowoc near Sheboygan. So what is my point?

Not sure actually, though as a kid I knew about Mt McKinley and never even knew the name was changed later on. I did graduate from UW in Madison whose name actually seemed normal to me lol.

Old New York was once New Amsterdam, why they changed it I can't say, people just like it better that way

For sure. The Anglo colonists must have ultimately  become the majority of white people, edging out the Dutch. "New York" would have had a much better ring to the English than "Niew Amsterdam", quite foreign. I think the excellent series "Gangs of New York" did not go back as far as Niew Amsterdam ("Gangs" was a great series that explained the history if NY).

Seems there are many on here that have drunk more than their fair share of the Trump kool aid LOL

Old New York was once New Amsterdam, why they changed it I can't say, people just like it better that way

For sure. The Anglo colonists must have ultimately become the majority of white people, edging out the Dutch. "New York" would have had a much better ring to the English than "Niew Amsterdam", quite foreign. I think the excellent series "Gangs of New York" did not go back as far as Niew Amsterdam ("Gangs" was a great series that explained the history if NY). - @danfinn

           Never saw the series, did it include the Van Buren Boys?

McConnell Comments on Hegseth Nomination
“Major adversaries are working closer together to undermine U.S. interests around the world. And America’s military capabilities and defense industrial capacity are increasingly insufficient to deter or prevail in major conflict with China or Russia, especially given the real risk of simultaneous challenges from other adversaries like Iran or North Korea.

Permalink: https://www.mcconnell.senate.gov/public … of-defense - @PalawOne

Iran and North Korea have bugger all that is a military threat to the United States.

Both states are in power because of idiotic US politicians.

Iran because US and UK politicians removed their democracy in favour of a mass murdering dictator, and N. Korea because China and Russia wanted to keep the US away from their borders. Keeping North Korea was the only way.

As for China, there is zero military threat as China's forces are defensive in nature. Their military was mostly short range, but they have been forced to build carriers in order to defend commerce from the US threat.

And that brings us to the real reason the US created an enemy out of China - Cash.

The US is a failed state with atrocious living conditions for much of its population, but China is very much on the rise and its people are tasting luxury and wealth.

The US response to a country with better capitalists is military threats.

That brings to to why this is important for expats. The massive US military buildup started by Obama is destabilising the region. The US, a country that has stated countless wars and destabilised a good number of countries, is complaining about a massive threat from a country that has engaged in a few border nothing conflicts, but has massively invested all over the world without a shot fired.

The hero US destroys and kills to gain power, but evil China builds roads and schools to gain influence.

Indonesia is a prime example.

We were bombed by the US some years ago, and the US tried to put their candidate up for president last year. China has funded infrastructure projects that have been a massive boost to businesses and created wealth for millions of locals, and hundreds of expat jobs.

Guess why Indonesia joined BRICS instead of moving towards the US.

To bring this into expat terms, one country destroys expat opportunities, puts expats in danger, and forces them away from the lives they have built. The other is creating more and more openings for very nice expat lifestyles through unprecedented investments all over the world.

Old New York was once New Amsterdam, why they changed it I can't say, people just like it better that way

           England took lower Manhattan from the Dutch in 1664, kept it as a result of a treaty a few years later, giving up their rights to Suriname in South America. The above quote is from the 1953 song Istanbul (not Constantinople) written on the 500th anniversary of the Ottoman empire capturing Constantinople, but the name was not changed until 1930  " Why did Constantinople get the works?  That's nobody's business but the Turk's". Song written by an Irish man, first sung by a Canadian quartet.

(1) Mich McConnell wife is Elaine Chao the Secretary of Transportation under Donald Trump.

(2) Morey Amsterdam bought Long Island and renamed it after himself.

FindlayMacD said . . . . Seems there are many on here that have drunk more than their fair share of the Trump kool aid LOL

*****************************

More Kool Aid please.

Seems there are many on here that have drunk more than their fair share of the Trump kool aid LOL - @FindlayMacD

This man must have had a career in professional writing. Wow, the biting sarcasm...who can top this?

" Drunk the Trump Kool aid".

LOL. So funny I almost forgot to laugh.

           Recently a shipment of clothing from the Philippines was halted in the US because it was suspected that Muslim slave labor from within China had been used.  Could explain why the 100% cotton t-shirts I purchase in the Philippines are so cheap.  Last year I got printed XL shirts for 140 pesos each.  This year got some XL tie dyes with printed pictures for 220 pesos each.  On cruise ships the special price sometimes comes down to 580 pesos per shirt.

For non-American speakers of English, I gather Kool aid was a drink poisoned by a cult leader and used to kill his followers.

Suicide or murder remains a subject of debate, but it explains the reference.

Trump Kool aid' would, as I understand it, reference the president's supporters destroying themselves in a fit of blind stupidity.

I'll leave others to decide on the legitimacy of the reference as I will try to restrict myself to expat issues Trump might cause.

https://apnews.com/article/trump-inspec … 3754359993

Mr Trump has just fired a bunch of people congress must be notified of before they are removed.

Details are thin on the ground

The Washington Post, which first reported the firings, said that many were appointees from Trump’s first term. Among those inspectors general reportedly removed included those for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense and Education.

Defence is the one expats should take note of.The rest is pretty much local policy.

However, it seems the move may be illegal.

Assuming that's true, it suggests Trump is a big danger to everyone when we consider the power of the US military.

Deliberately breaking the law suggests he might do rash things abroad as he has threatened.

Fred said . . . .https://apnews.com/article/trump-inspec … 3754359993Mr Trump has just fired a bunch of people congress must be notified of before they are removed.Details are thin on the ground

***********************************

These people serve under the discretion of the President. There are 74 Inspector Generals. One half appointed by the President and the other half by the Agency head.

They supposedly are to prevent Fraud, Waste and Abuse. Only the leftist opinions perspective has been reported on the above link.

So 17 have been given their walking papers while 57 will continue to work under the discretion of the President. There can be many various reasons for their firing.

Ok, relieve them immediately of their duties and give them their paychecks for 30 days, then let them join the unemployment line.

Just think if Biden could have been fired 30 days earlier a lot of damage he created in that time period would not exist today. (Meaning what Monkey Wrench would these 17 IG thrown in if they knew in advance of their dismissal ?)

Fred said . . . .https://apnews.com/article/trump-inspec … 3754359993Mr Trump has just fired a bunch of people congress must be notified of before they are removed.Details are thin on the ground
***********************************
These people serve under the discretion of the President. There are 74 Inspector Generals. One half appointed by the President and the other half by the Agency head.
They supposedly are to prevent Fraud, Waste and Abuse. Only the leftist opinions perspective has been reported on the above link.

So 17 have been given their walking papers while 57 will continue to work under the discretion of the President. There can be many various reasons for their firing.

Ok, relieve them immediately of their duties and give them their paychecks for 30 days, then let them join the unemployment line.

Just think if Biden could have been fired 30 days earlier a lot of damage he created in that time period would not exist today. (Meaning what Monkey Wrench would these 17 IG thrown in if they knew in advance of their dismissal ?) - @Enzyte Bob

Several reports suggest Trump is breaking US domestic law.

If that proves to be true, it's an indication of how he is likely to treat international issues that could well cause problems for expats.

Added from the link

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., acknowledged that the firings violated statutes but shrugged it off: “Just tell them you need to follow the law next time,” he said.

It seems it's not just the left who are suggesting illegality.

US internal problems are just that, but Trump flouting the law adds weight to the suggestion he might well ignore international law as well.

@Fred

Nobody in the new admin us flouting any US laws.

@Fred

Several reports suggest Trump is breaking US domestic law.

If that proves to be true, it's an indication of how he is likely to treat international issues that could well cause problems for expats.

Fred has learned to carry over the same 'if-then' logic that the TDS people used in the first Trump administration.

If Trump were to do such and such,

Then he will blow up the world and you will be sorry you voted for him.

Speculating "if", like "if" he broke US law then tragic consequences might follow.

Actually that is not untrue.

But one can speculate anything.

"IF" Trump has vines growing out of his teeth,

"then" we know he is a spaghetti monster.

And that will presumably not be good for expats..

@danfinn

I wonder why the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans etc don't appoint media commentators to their most senior defence positions? I mean you do realise the kind of guys Hegseth is going up against? Or don't you?

Fred said . . . .https://apnews.com/article/trump-inspec … 3754359993Mr Trump has just fired a bunch of people congress must be notified of before they are removed.Details are thin on the ground
***********************************
These people serve under the discretion of the President. There are 74 Inspector Generals. One half appointed by the President and the other half by the Agency head.
They supposedly are to prevent Fraud, Waste and Abuse. Only the leftist opinions perspective has been reported on the above link.

So 17 have been given their walking papers while 57 will continue to work under the discretion of the President. There can be many various reasons for their firing.

Ok, relieve them immediately of their duties and give them their paychecks for 30 days, then let them join the unemployment line.

Just think if Biden could have been fired 30 days earlier a lot of damage he created in that time period would not exist today. (Meaning what Monkey Wrench would these 17 IG thrown in if they knew in advance of their dismissal ?)

- @Enzyte Bob

*******************************

Several reports suggest Trump is breaking US domestic law.
If that proves to be true, it's an indication of how he is likely to treat international issues that could well cause problems for expats. - @Fred

*****************************************

Who said Trump is breaking US domestic law and what law is he breaking?

As this is an expat forum about expat concerns, perhaps we could look at how many wars the countries named above have started since 1945.

Iran - 0

N. Korea - 1 after threats from the south

China - Half a dozen border clashes and a month in Vietnam

Russia - Quite a few, more when it was the USSR's main country

USA - Someone get me a very big calculator, but include about 20 years in Vietnam where they got their arses kicked.

All have been engaged in proxy wars.

It would be my contention, the greatest danger to expats is a country that has been continously at war since 1947, and always against nations that were unable to attack the US.

Having a nutter in the Whitehouse is a very bad idea in general, and should be of concern to a lot of expats.

@danfinnI wonder why the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, North Koreans etc don't appoint media commentators to their most senior defence positions? I mean you do realise the kind of guys Hegseth is going up against? Or don't you? - @Brojeslov

With all due respect sir, you know and I know that a person's one-time employment as a media commentator has no negative or positive effects on anything. It is, frankly, a stupid question and I refuse to engage having no opinion on other countries" defense positions.

I am moving to the Philippines to get away from all the ridiculous political banter, yet here it is.  I have resigned myself to the fact that unhappy people have infected all points on the planet.  If you don't like what is happening with US politics, great.  But why must you attempt to engage in argumentative discourse on this or any other forum?  There are many things I detest and deeply disagree with, but I keep my opinions to myself and life moves on...quite happily for me.  But I know this is just my two cents, which to many of you is three cents short of value.

I am moving to the Philippines to get away from all the ridiculous political banter, yet here it is. I have resigned myself to the fact that unhappy people have infected all points on the planet. If you don't like what is happening with US politics, great. But why must you attempt to engage in argumentative discourse on this or any other forum? There are many things I detest and deeply disagree with, but I keep my opinions to myself and life moves on...quite happily for me. But I know this is just my two cents, which to many of you is three cents short of value. - @dhmacmu

Nothing on here is required reading.  One of the great things about freedom of speech is the freedom to not listen.