• MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de
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    2 days ago

    Trump didn’t specify how we would remove Maduro in the same way its pointless for Europe to specify exactly how they could or would retaliate. Its more than enough for there to be multiple options to make them all valid when it comes time to say “we warned you”.

    Please don’t confuse my enthusiasm for one option that’s been shown to be possible and devestating, for me saying this is the only option Europe should consider. On the contrary, I’m just wishing they would pick an option that matters and run with it already. All they’ve done is show their belly like a submissive dog.

    They don’t even appear to care about plausible deniability any more. Arresting Gaza protestors is just such a good, strong-arm look for going against Trump. Fear of Europe must be why so many churches in my area are flying Israeli flags at the moment.

    As for how you contradicted yourself, you said “if the threat isn’t listened to then they act on it”, then went on to claim a threat that has to be followed-through on is worthless. On the contrary, a threat that has been known all-along is rendered moot when you spell it out long after the time for it is past.

    Its the threat you have to verbalize that’s worthless. Holding a knife to someone’s throat to threaten another person is not the act of someone with any control over their present situation, and its a threat made-up on the spot that’s easilly invalidated in so, so many ways. That scenario is not applicable to Europe versus the US at all.

    • Cethin@lemmy.zip
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      1 day ago

      As for how you contradicted yourself, you said “if the threat isn’t listened to then they act on it”, then went on to claim a threat that has to be followed-through on is worthless. On the contrary, a threat that has been known all-along is rendered moot when you spell it out long after the time for it is past.

      That’s not a contradiction. If you have to follow through on your threat then it failed to achieve its goal. Usually it’s not a desired outcome. It doesn’t gain you a thing. It still needs to be done though or your threats will be ignored.

      Its the threat you have to verbalize that’s worthless.

      It depends on the context, but usually no. There needs to be clear boundaries where the threat becomes acted upon for it to be effective most of the time.

      its a threat made-up on the spot that’s easilly invalidated in so, so many ways.

      This is exactly my point. This threat was just made up. It can’t be used retroactively. That’s not how things work. They need to set boundaries, then execute it if the lines are crossed. If you set boundaries that have already been crossed then what are you trying to gain?

      • MachineFab812@discuss.tchncs.de
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        21 hours ago

        You think the boundaries weren’t spelled out? I mean, we all know “international law” is a joke 1st world countries ignore versus their own actions and the rest of the world, but versus eachother? “Don’t fuck with us and we won’t fuck with you” is stupidly over-defined.

        The same for the financial enmeshment that sees this threat well-inside the realm of potential reality. Europe never promised not to sell these debts. The fact the US can’t complain about it if they do is part of what makes it a good threat. Are you not familiar with “soft power”, like, at all?

        You might have begun to be onto something if this was the only threat in Europes hand, but let’s be real for a moment: the deck is stacked so badly in Europe’s favor towards a half-dozen or so Royal Flushes that come with a free(if unwanted) blow-job, and dozens of other relatively-painless-to-Europe-but-enough-to-Fuck-up-a-US-election-cycle-or-three options, its absurd, so saying “maybe they could, but should they?” is insincere and enabling at best.

        Pretend this is a Zoo; The signs say such things as “Please Don’t Feed Pedo-Hitler”, and “Break Glass For Free Dart-Gun in Case of Escaped Pedo-Hitler” … you’re the person hemming and hawing about someone else maybe breaking the glass while escaped Pedo-Hitler stalks a pre-school class. Could you at least get out of the way of the other adults, or are you cool with it being assumed you are happy to see Pedo-Hitler on the wrong side of the barriers?