# Biden saber rattling re Russians

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [February 5, 2021, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231 "2021-02-05T01:50:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/21 "2021-02-05T03:00:31Z")

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> [@MrMrmrmr](#):
>
> Do you have an opinion about the phrasing and tone of President Biden in this example

Nothing out of the ordinary about it at all.  
Looking forward to panicky threads about Biden’s choice of dog food.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/22 "2021-02-05T03:13:46Z")

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Closed on February 5, 2021, 3:13am UTC



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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/23 "2021-02-05T03:15:00Z")

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**Modnote** : This empty op can be moved to the pit or left close. Op let me know.

Please do not start any more ops in P&E or GD without some actual content, thoughts and links.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/24 "2021-02-05T04:13:50Z")

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Opened on February 5, 2021, 4:13am UTC



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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/25 "2021-02-05T04:28:08Z")

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> [@MrMrmrmr](#):
>
> I don’t think the Russians react well to in your face confrontation.

As opposed to “I’ll drop my trousers and bend over if you ask, Vlad!” ?

After four years of a president who was more interested in defending Russian interests than US interests, some tough talk is refreshing to see.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/26 "2021-02-05T04:30:34Z")

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> [@madmonk28](#):
>
> What’s your evidence for that? For the past four years we’ve had nothing but complete capitulation to Russia and it has only encouraged them to be more hostile.

Correct.

They reacted to a weakling like Trump in the White House by putting bounties on the heads of US soldiers.

Which didn’t upset Trump at all, apparently.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/27 "2021-02-05T04:34:31Z")

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> [@MrMrmrmr](#):
>
> What is he doing? Is he a war hawk throwing down a gauntlet with his provocative rhetoric?

“Sabre-rattling” normally means threatening some sort of military action. Since you didn’t post a link to any article, I can’t tell what you meant, but I read the article **Velocity** linked to, and I didn’t see any reference to military threats. Can you please point to the military threat which you allege Biden is making?

Is this what you mean by “sabre-rattling” and “provocative rhetoric”?

> [@](#):
>
> “That must start with diplomacy, rooted in America’s most cherished democratic values: defending freedom, championing opportunity, upholding universal rights, respecting the rule of law, treating every person with dignity.”

Harsh words, that.

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**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/28 "2021-02-05T04:38:50Z")

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Here’s a good article from The NY Times, it basically compares Putin to the US’s ex-boyfriend from hell, our geopolitical stalker.

> **[Opinion | Vladimir Putin Has Become America’s Ex-Boyfriend From Hell...](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/opinion/vladimir-putin-russia-america.html)**
>
> He’s not very important to us, but he keeps stalking us.

There is an outside organization with a list of Russian individuals that they feel should be sanctioned. There is a priority shortlist within that list. The number ONE name on that list is Roman Abramovich.

> **[Russian activist Navalny's foundation calls on Biden to sanction Putin's...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/30/europe/russia-navalny-foundation-biden-letter-intl/index.html)**
>
> The foundation set up by Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny has called on US President Joe Biden to impose sanctions on at least eight high profile Russian figures it says are close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I don’t think it’s mentioned in the linked article, but Abramovich and his wife are friends with Jared and Ivanka. Possibly good friends. At some point before her daddy was President, she posted pictures of her and her “bestie”, Abramovich’s wife to social media. I think they were vacationing together, but I’m not sure about that.

And during Trump’s presidency, there were sightings of Abramovich’s jet in cities Jared and Ivanka were visiting.

Just saying. No wonder Trump had to overrule …_everybody_… to get his gangster son-in-law a security clearance.

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**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/29 "2021-02-05T04:52:25Z")

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> [@MrMrmrmr](#):
>
> I guess I was wishing for a more diplomatic approach.

You mean like immediately agreeing with Putin that the US should [extend the New START treaty](https://www.politico.eu/article/putin-and-biden-confirm-extension-of-new-start-treaty/)? Such a saber-rattling war hawk, yeah.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/30 "2021-02-05T04:56:44Z")

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> [@MrMrmrmr](#):
>
> I guess I was wishing for a more diplomatic approach.

Or would you have preferred something wishy-washy like: “The US intelligence community has unanimously said that the Russians interfered massively in the 2016 election, but President Putin has denied it, so it looks like we’ll never know the answer and we’ll just have to move on.”

Is that what you mean by “more diplomatic”, instead of a more dogmatic statement like “I believe whatever Vlad says, not US intel.”

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**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/31 "2021-02-05T05:30:30Z")

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I must say, I love the last half-dozen or so posts here. The OP is a fucking right-wing troglodyte, as duly noted **[here in the Trolls’R’Us thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trolls-r-us-redux/913349/2660)**. Nice posting, guys and gals.

To be fair though, he acknowledges that **[liberals are not necessarily evil](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ah-honest-attempt-to-see-the-other-side-by-a-progressive/926354/273)**. Sometimes they’re just stupid, unable to think through the unintended consequences of their misguided policies. 🙄

As someone aptly said recently (I’m sorry, I don’t have a link and can’t credit the poster) there was a time when we could recognize mental illness. Today we just call them Republicans, and try to figure out how to compromise with them.

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**Author:** ![SleepyJoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sleepyjoe/32/6493_2.png) [@SleepyJoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SleepyJoe)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/32 "2021-02-05T05:32:27Z")

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Yep he’s making Russia the enemy which of course they are in actuality but he will spread America’s weak legs for China and all our South of the border “friends”.

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**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/33 "2021-02-05T09:44:44Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> Holy Christ, this is turning into Obama all over again-No matter what Biden does it MUST be bad because Biden is doing it.

No need to go back that far. “Deplorables” is still getting regular play.

> [@SleepyJoe](#):
>
> Yep he’s making Russia the enemy which of course they are in actuality but he will spread America’s weak legs for China and all our South of the border “friends”.

You’re even more of a troll than OP. Thank you for making it so obvious.

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**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/34 "2021-02-05T09:46:09Z")

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> [@MrMrmrmr](#):
>
> I agree Trump was beholden to the Russians due to them buying his NY property and keeping his cash flow positive.

They also helped kept the GOP’s cash flows positive. And of course funded vast numbers of internet trolls working to promote Trump, trash the Democrats, and downplay the influence of Russian interference in the election and the existence of Russian-directed internet trolls.

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/35 "2021-02-05T09:46:40Z")

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> [@MrMrmrmr](#):
>
> I don’t think the Russians react well to in your face confrontation.

And why do you think Americans should react any better? The Russians have been going full Khachaturian these past few years. Maybe it’s time for the U.S. to put them in their place.

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**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/36 "2021-02-05T09:58:14Z")

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> [@SleepyJoe](#):
>
> he will spread America’s weak legs for China

It’s funny how Republicans are concerned that Biden will, for no reason whatsoever, capitulate to China but never seemed particularly bothered that Trump is literally **heavily** indebted to China nor that he used his position to expand his and Ivanka’s business interests in China nor that he worked to drop sanctions against a Chinese company that had been illegally trading with Iran (and then bragged about creating jobs in China) nor that he had a Chinese bank account nor that he repeatedly praised China’s handling of the coronavirus (until he needed a scapegoat to distract from his own handling of the pandemic).

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/37 "2021-02-05T12:49:32Z")

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Forget it, Gyrate. It’s GQP Chinatown.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/38 "2021-02-05T13:16:28Z")

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> [@SleepyJoe](#):
>
> Yep he’s making Russia the enemy which of course they are in actuality but he will spread America’s weak legs for China and all our South of the border “friends”.

SleepyJoe joined 8 hours ago. Sock puppet for the OP?

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/39 "2021-02-05T14:07:34Z")

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> [@solost](#):
>
> SleepyJoe joined 8 hours ago. Sock puppet for the OP?

The name alone tells you that he is a troll, if not a sock.

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**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\
**Post date:** [February 5, 2021, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/biden-saber-rattling-re-russians/932231/40 "2021-02-05T15:11:59Z")

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Do we have a “most idiotic OP of 2021” thread started yet?

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