Hi AC,

Russia was under no threat, invasion or otherwise. The invasion of Ukraine was its choice, and the war would end if Russia withdrew its invading army.

"Ukrainians wont last much longer."

Maybe, but they were only going to last a few weeks three years ago. Do you know that the most harmful action of the allies against Nazi Germany was a bombing raid on their main oil supply (not that they realised it at the time)? I suspect that Ukraine is targeting Russia's fuel infrastructure in the belief that it will have a similar effect. There are lots of cold and hungry Russians on the front lines. Less fuel will make it tougher for them.

Foxy linked to an article from Crikey which claimed that Trump's support was already falling based on a reduced viewership for his inauguration.

It did this by totalling all the viewers on free-to-air and cable TV. But what it failed to acknowledge was that, this being the 21st century, most viewers get their data from online sources. So 20 million watched on X, 30 million on Trump's Truth Social website, 20 million on YouTube. And so on.

When you total all the viewers on TV PLUS those online, the Trump inauguration was by far the most watched in history.

I suspect Crikey knew this but also knows its audience who are much more interested in comforting fables than the truth. The decline of Crikey is rather sad - it used to be a valued adjunct to Australian journalism.

Hilariously Foxy started her post with the cry...Facts first.

Hi Fester,
Russia always has ways to respond.
They can always throw a few Iskanders and Kinzhals at the gas storage in Lviv.

Trump and Musk seem intent on getting rid of Sholtz and Starmer.
Musk seems supportive of AfD and they are talking about taking Germany out of NATO.

Trump favors sanctions against Russia, but they've already survived the toughest sanctions ever placed on any country and their economy is ok.
If they take Russias frozen central bank assets Russia will just take 200 billion worth of the Wests assets in Russia.
Everyone is acting like Trump is holding a winning hand, but personally I think he's holding a pair of twos.

1.5 million Palestinians have moved back into Northern Gaza.
Lots of Hamas present during the handover of those 4 IDF girls.
Israelis will be asking themselves what have they achieved.

Mohammad Sinwar has taken over from Yahya Sinwar.
Israel are learning they cant fight their way to victory.

Netanyahu in court complaining about his poor health.
I hear there was an physical altercation between father and son.
Wife and son have gone to Florida.

""Ukrainians wont last much longer.""

AC's been singing the same song every few months for three years. Its no truer now than it was in Feb '22.

Meanwhile things are going so well in Russia that its needed to get new cannon fodder from North Korea. They duly got massacred. Its so bad that Russia is now issuing wanted posters for 3 Norks who turned their guns on their supposed Russia allies.

Its a generalised mess. Hopefully Trump can smack a few heads together and bring peace to the region.

Meanwhile in the sane world, Marco Rubio, new Secretary of State for the US issued orders that said that all US aid and any US actions will need to meet three criteria: "Does it make us stronger? Does it make us safer? And does it make us more prosperous?".

Australia? If only.

I don't see how Australia throwing good money after bad in Gaza meets any of those criteria.