"Trumps threatening tariffs against everyone, "

No...just against countries that are running unfair trade surpluses with the US or, as in the case of Canada and Mexico, doing SFA to halt illegal traffic across their shared border.

"wants to take back Panama Canal, and ownership of Greenland as national security."

It is truly said that Trump's supporters take his statements seriously but not literally but his detractors take them literally but not seriously. You have to understand the "art of the Deal". These are merely Trump's opening bids.

If you're going to spend the next 4 years thinking every statement from Trump is his final word, you're going to be very confused for 4 years.

" meanwhile everyone is paying more because of their wars and sanctions. "

No the US, like Australia, is paying more because of frivolous and unnecessary spending during the lockdowns and things like the hilariously named Inflation Reduction Act.

If you want to see a country paying more because of war, look to your beloved Russia where interest rates are over 20% and inflation higher still.

Of course, China isn't paying more for their stuff. They're paying less with the country in a deflationary phase which ALWAYS indicates an economy in deep trouble.

"nations are offloading their US bonds."

Not true.

Hi AC,

Do you think that Syria under the Assad dictatorship could accurately be described as a vassal state?

As horrible as the conflict in Ukraine is, it seems to be adversely affecting Russia's influence in the world. Time will tell if that is a good or bad thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd6AgvAutZc

Hi Fester,
I watched your video, the first thing I'd say about that is that I really don't like Times Radio videos, I don't like their analysis, even when they have so-called experts, If I were to minimise my criticisms, I'd say it's a extremely skewed view of things. If I went the other way and maximised my criticism, I'd say it's completely devoid of a true understanding of things.

But that aside, and onto your question.

'Do I think that Syria under the Assad dictatorship could accurately be described as a vassal state?'
- Not not really, but there's no mistaking that Russia who was invited in to defend the Assad government after several years of war, saved it from western sponsored jihadis at the time, and was instrumental in helping defend it.

The reason why I wouldn't call Syria a vassal state of Russia, is because Assad was warned by Russia and Iran about the increasing threat and failed to address the issues before it was too late.

Consequently, Russia was not willing to become further embroiled in a situation that would've overstretched it's military when it's main concerns were defending the Russian homeland.

Russia is not Syria, and they are no more 'Syrian' than the Syrians themselves. Ultimately it was the U.S. capture of territory in the east, Syria's lifeblood if you wish, their food production and oil-fields - as well as U.S. sanctions that ultimately lead to it's fall.

The country was broke, could not pay it's military properly and corruption was rife.
Military on low pay were easily bribed.
Russia could've done more to try and save the situation, but ultimately I think it was a sinking ship will little path to recovery anyway, and Russia looked at this and felt that it was a somewhat pointless exercise.

Yes it was a strategic loss for Russia (and Iran), and somewhat humiliating considering many Russians died in it's defense, but come 2024 and the situation that currently existed, allowing the country to fall may have been the more practical (though unfortunate) option for Russia.

Hi AC,

"Consequently, Russia was not willing to become further embroiled in a situation that would've overstretched it's military when it's main concerns were defending the Russian homeland."

Some might describe the invasion of a neighbouring democracy differently. Also, my impression is that Turkey has been active in the fall. This makes sense to me given the past instability when Isis was more active. If this is the case then Israel has done the Turks a favour by targeting Sryia's military hardware.

A timeline of four years for a democratically elected government is a bit of a worry.

Hi mhaze,

Japan and China Dump US Treasuries Before Trump’s Victory
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-19/two-of-america-s-biggest-debt-holders-are-dumping-treasuries
'Investors from Japan offloaded record amount of US bonds in 3Q'
'Both nations may continue to sell US debt: AT Global Markets'

Yellen Panics; US Bonds Are CRASHING As Brutal Holiday DUMP Gets Worse - What’s Next In 2025?
http://youtu.be/b6bbDCiLX10

Now I don't know if this guys opinion is worth anything (video below), as I only just came across it yesterday, but maybe his arguments are valid, I don't know.

Trumps Planning to Crash the Global Economy
http://youtu.be/HRAfLJiH0qA

Hi Fester,
There's no denying the fact that Russia invaded Ukraine, but it's the reasons for its doing so that are important.
It was not a war that Russia itself wanted, but a situation the west instigated that forced Russia to act.

Yes, Turkey was very instrumental in helping HTS take down the Assad government, as was Qatar, the U.S. and Israel.