Politics Super Thread - keep it all in here

[Don Kershane]

Remember driving across Afghanistan when the Soviets and Americans were vying for influence. The Soviets built half the main highway in concrete and the Americans the other half in asphalt. The asphalt was deteriorating rapidly. It is a shame generations of young travellers won't have the opportunity to visit these areas(safely) as the overland trip used to be one of the great ones.

China has already announced that they are building a massive highway from western China through Afghanistan into Pakistan and Central Asia.

China can announce what it wants. It doesn't mean it's got any chance of happening. Why would the Taliban support this road? Just so they can hijack any trucks that drive along it?

Not hijack just tax the trucking etc just like they have always done in areas they control-a lot of their funds came from road taxes.

 

[balmain boy]

Remember driving across Afghanistan when the Soviets and Americans were vying for influence. The Soviets built half the main highway in concrete and the Americans the other half in asphalt. The asphalt was deteriorating rapidly. It is a shame generations of young travellers won't have the opportunity to visit these areas(safely) as the overland trip used to be one of the great ones.

China has already announced that they are building a massive highway from western China through Afghanistan into Pakistan and Central Asia.

China can announce what it wants. It doesn't mean it's got any chance of happening. Why would the Taliban support this road? Just so they can hijack any trucks that drive along it?

Not hijack just tax the trucking etc just like they have always done in areas they control-a lot of their funds came from road taxes.

I'm sure it would be a very popular trade route...

Easier to just go the long way.

 

[Tiger5150]

Remember driving across Afghanistan when the Soviets and Americans were vying for influence. The Soviets built half the main highway in concrete and the Americans the other half in asphalt. The asphalt was deteriorating rapidly. It is a shame generations of young travellers won't have the opportunity to visit these areas(safely) as the overland trip used to be one of the great ones.

China has already announced that they are building a massive highway from western China through Afghanistan into Pakistan and Central Asia.

China can announce what it wants. It doesn't mean it's got any chance of happening. **Why would the Taliban support this road?** Just so they can hijack any trucks that drive along it?

"Free" infrastructure, global legitimacy, foreign aid, trade with China, foreign support, royalties on resources.......yeah, no idea why the Taliban would support this.

 

[Tiger5150]

I think that it was a terrible decision to leave Afghanistan.

Apart from human rights and removing a haven for terrorism, it had become an extremely cost effective way to have a presence in the region as basically guests. With another cold war type situation evolving with Russia and much more important one with China, a strategic base has been lost.

So you expect Afghanistan to just become the next state of the USA? They'd just stay there forever, with Americans dying on a daily basis just because?

Safer this year to be a US soldier posted in Afghanistan than a Brooklyn police officer. Status quo meant Taliban didnt control Afghanistan, not a potential hub for terrorism, not a return to being the source of 80% of the worlds opiates, prevents China's control of rare earth element mining.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Remember driving across Afghanistan when the Soviets and Americans were vying for influence. The Soviets built half the main highway in concrete and the Americans the other half in asphalt. The asphalt was deteriorating rapidly. It is a shame generations of young travellers won't have the opportunity to visit these areas(safely) as the overland trip used to be one of the great ones.

That would have been awesome mate! So that would have been before the Soviet invasion? I watched a really good documentary a few years ago, can't recall the name of it, had a British fella journeying through Afghanistan on the trail of Alexander the Great, looking at ancient Zoroastrian sites etc. Full of history that part of the world, which adds to the pain of it now being back under the control of nutters who deliberately destroy historic monuments a la Bamayan.

It was a fairly common trip then . Drove in van from London to Calcutta, One thing I never forgot was how tall the Pashtun men were. Taliban style clothing - scary when they stared at you - can only guess what they were thinking.

That's crazy mate. I am pretty sure someone on here did the whole silk road trek, was it you, or someone else?

Yes. It wasn't such a big deal then. In the dodgy areas you camp in the police compound for a fee. Border crossings were a bit of a lottery re bribes etc. Police in old Yugoslavia were more corrupt . if you had no cash they would take you to friendly hotel to cash your travellers cheques.

Still would have been a great trip.

Always wanted to see Palmyra, not sure how much of it is left after ISIS went through there and blew up the old temples.

Man that was just heartbreaking. Look up the name Khaled al-Asaad, I hope his name is never forgotten. Willingly went to his death to try and protect some of the antiquities there.

The old fella they decapitated? He was like 80. Pretty gutless thing to do to an old man wanting to look after historical artefacts.

 

[Tim Sheens]

I think that it was a terrible decision to leave Afghanistan.

Apart from human rights and removing a haven for terrorism, it had become an extremely cost effective way to have a presence in the region as basically guests. With another cold war type situation evolving with Russia and much more important one with China, a strategic base has been lost.

So you expect Afghanistan to just become the next state of the USA? They'd just stay there forever, with Americans dying on a daily basis just because?

I hope that you realise that we have had troops not that far from there for decades prior to our Afghanistan deployment and they remain in the Sinai to this day

This is a strategic mistake on so many levels for mine and with about one tenth of their troop numbers that have been in Korea for five decades prior, in recent years it was money extremely well spent for the US and us as well.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Obviously a ridiculous agreement signed by Trump, who is a convicted Rapist and Felon, but Biden doesn't get to wipe his hands of this either. Even my young son drew equivalence to what he had seen and learnt on our most recent overseas trip to Vietnam as he caught a little of the news yesterday.

On the home front, Morrison and Dutton, as well as Payne to a lesser extent, have failed both our veterans and aides. They have been warned about this for months on end and even by Howard back in June.

To see people feeling similarly abandoned clinging to rolling planes on a runway or then falling from the sky is heart-rending. Best efforts my arse!

 

[TillLindemann]

Remember driving across Afghanistan when the Soviets and Americans were vying for influence. The Soviets built half the main highway in concrete and the Americans the other half in asphalt. The asphalt was deteriorating rapidly. It is a shame generations of young travellers won't have the opportunity to visit these areas(safely) as the overland trip used to be one of the great ones.

That would have been awesome mate! So that would have been before the Soviet invasion? I watched a really good documentary a few years ago, can't recall the name of it, had a British fella journeying through Afghanistan on the trail of Alexander the Great, looking at ancient Zoroastrian sites etc. Full of history that part of the world, which adds to the pain of it now being back under the control of nutters who deliberately destroy historic monuments a la Bamayan.

It was a fairly common trip then . Drove in van from London to Calcutta, One thing I never forgot was how tall the Pashtun men were. Taliban style clothing - scary when they stared at you - can only guess what they were thinking.

That's crazy mate. I am pretty sure someone on here did the whole silk road trek, was it you, or someone else?

Yes. It wasn't such a big deal then. In the dodgy areas you camp in the police compound for a fee. Border crossings were a bit of a lottery re bribes etc. Police in old Yugoslavia were more corrupt . if you had no cash they would take you to friendly hotel to cash your travellers cheques.

Still would have been a great trip.

Always wanted to see Palmyra, not sure how much of it is left after ISIS went through there and blew up the old temples.

Man that was just heartbreaking. Look up the name Khaled al-Asaad, I hope his name is never forgotten. Willingly went to his death to try and protect some of the antiquities there.

The old fella they decapitated? He was like 80. Pretty gutless thing to do to an old man wanting to look after historical artefacts.

Yeah he hid some of the antiquities for safekeeping - they took him captive and tortured him for a month, but even threatened with he would not reveal to them where the artefacts were. So they publicly executed him and put his body on display. The ultimate bravery by an old frail man trying to preserve history from vandals - he's a true hero.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...

 

[mike]

Führer Fuller and Scomo from Marketing are Hillsong buddies. Explains a lot.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...

more of albo's $300 vaccine thought bubble the country will well and truly be broke

 

[Snake]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...

The millions of Australians that still are employed because of job keeper say HI!
The ALP rode on the coat tails of a Howard/ Costellos impeccable monetary decisions during the GFC.. that was until the ALP decided everyone needed pink Batts ??

 

[Yossarian]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...

more of albo's $300 vaccine thought bubble the country will well and truly be broke

You reckon the constant lockdowns and job keeper payments are cheap? But hey, don’t let logic get in the way of your partisan whining.

 

[Yossarian]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...


The millions of Australians that still are employed because of job keeper say HI!
The ALP rode on the coat tails of a Howard/ Costellos impeccable monetary decisions during the GFC.. that was until the ALP decided everyone needed pink Batts ??

And which monetary decisions would that be? Weren’t the LNP opposed to stimulus back then? Some people on here may be old enough to remember the appalling job Howard did as treasurer and the actual macro economic changes Hawke/Keating accomplished.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...

more of albo's $300 vaccine thought bubble the country will well and truly be broke

You reckon the constant lockdowns and job keeper payments are cheap? But hey, don’t let logic get in the way of your partisan whining.

so the vaccine payment replaces lockdowns please no way Labor drop lockdowns and job keeper, they will just pay me $300 and I have already have a vaccination.
But hey don't let logic and hatred of the right cloud your judgement

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...


The millions of Australians that still are employed because of job keeper say HI!
The ALP rode on the coat tails of a Howard/ Costellos impeccable monetary decisions during the GFC.. that was until the ALP decided everyone needed pink Batts ??

And which monetary decisions would that be? Weren’t the LNP opposed to stimulus back then? Some people on here may be old enough to remember the appalling job Howard did as treasurer and the actual macro economic changes Hawke/Keating accomplished.

ah yes the recession we had to have, Keating was a shocker

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Lift up your hearts everybody.. Thanks Mr Scomo..

It's not a race and I believe in miracles.

we are very luck that miracle win happened In 2019 we could have come up Short En be in worse shape

Except you don't know that, you can only judge the cluster that is in front of us now.

Keep telling yourself that. 1 trillion in debt, three quarters of that racked up since 2013. Double dip recession. Held balance of power in both houses since then so they could enact policy to pay down debt, but didn't.

"Good economic managers." :rolling_on_the_floor_laughing:

they have taken a leaf from Labor in the spending stakes
liberals build up the surplus and usually Labor spend

Mate, they are the ALP on steriods. The only difference is the ALP spent and made us the #1 economy in the world during the GFC. The LNP spent even more and got us into a double dip recession lol...


The millions of Australians that still are employed because of job keeper say HI!
The ALP rode on the coat tails of a Howard/ Costellos impeccable monetary decisions during the GFC.. that was until the ALP decided everyone needed pink Batts ??

And which monetary decisions would that be? Weren’t the LNP opposed to stimulus back then? Some people on here may be old enough to remember the appalling job Howard did as treasurer and the actual macro economic changes Hawke/Keating accomplished.

ah yes the recession we had to have, Keating was a shocker

Scomo's given us the double dip recession we didn't need.

It's not a race.