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Families of US sailors denounce Trump and Hegseth for starving our US sailors. It may be worse on less visible ships. Trump and admin fail to react to crisis. (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) by pelespirit@sh.itjust.works to c/politics@sh.itjust.works

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They spoke of insufficient nourishment that has led to close relatives losing 20-30lbs in weight since they were sent to the Middle East five months ago, leaving one sailor “emaciated”, according to his mother.

They spoke also of low-quality drinking water and scarce mental health counseling and support despite the intense burden of being at sea for months on end without making land.

The USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier with more than 5,000 sailors and marines onboard, has been at sea for nearly nine months, having begun its deployment in November. There have been reports of multiple suicide attempts including jumping overboard.

When Trump was asked on Friday whether naval families were worried about conditions on board, he replied: “No, they’re not.” He said that the Lincoln’s deployment, now in its ninth month, was “not nearly long enough”.

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[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 2 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

One that I definitely see China taking up the banner of as we collapse.

I hate starting sentences with, "I'm not a tankie, but", but:

I'm not a tankie, but, China has leaned a lot on economic soft power and seems to be steadily taking over Africa with consensual development deals that would be in a US context just a pallet of M-16s shipped to some random pedophile warlord.

I know China domestically is pretty gross, especially in Tibet and with the Uighurs, but as far as foreign policy goes, China is light-years ahead of the United States.

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The same China that's currently saber rattling at every single direct neighbor they have? The United States Used to Know the value of soft power too. But it's the nature of states. They always corrupt. And the corrupt don't value soft power or diplomacy.

And don't bother trying to argue that China isn't corrupt. Billionaires and millionaires exist there. Allowing that from the start was a corrupt move. Don't question that the state doesn't covet that power. Just because they will imprison or kill those Millionaires and billionaires if they cross "the state". Does not make them uncorrupted.

As to the tanky bit...... Honestly outside of the horrendous social policy, China has actually done a number of things right or at least better than the US, which isn't a great achievement. I honestly wouldn't mind discussing and dissecting those things if it wasn't for disingenuous defense of their cultural and social abuses by them or the ML. That think the world will be a better place if they were the bully. Without understanding that who the bully is, isn't the problem. It's the existence of said bullies.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 1 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yeah, I remember not being able to express any criticism of Ana Kasperian (feminist using video games to explore feminist themes and idea) without being immediately disgusted by the people agreeing with me, which is the same problem from a different end--that is to say, it's difficult to have a neutral discussion on some topics on the internet.

Honestly don't follow the news that much, but notice that for all the saber-rattling, China hasn´t actually done anything, in contrast to the US over the last, oh, 200 years. And I find the Belt and Road Inititiative creepy AF but a welcome change from the United States funding civil wars and murdering leaders to get its way... so, yeah, there's plenty there to discuss. But you did say it looks like China's stepping up militarily, so maybe it will fill the hardpower vacuum left by the United States' overpriced military (though I think the technology that has all but defeated the United States in the Persian Gulf also makes US-style interventionism increasingly obsolete).

I also have a theory that power eventually corrupts society as the powerful enrich themselves to the detriment of their supporting society--the parasite kills the host. It's already happening the United States. I'm honestly wondering how China, with it's centralized authority structure, has managed to not only survive so long, but actually make advancements as a whole.

[–] Eldritch@piefed.world 1 points 4 days ago

Honestly don't follow the news that much, but notice that for all the saber-rattling, China hasn´t actually done anything, in contrast to the US over the last, oh, 200 years.

Honestly, China has had a history of it as well. Though that China technically isn't this china. There were technically at least a China or two between then and now. Maoism was mostly toxic at home. Dengism ramped it up and will eventually export it sooner or later. This China is only just getting to the position where they can start doing it. Which is why they are starting. The main reason that it hasn't escalated into military conflict. Is that most of the people they've been intimidating know that they would lose in that sort of conflict.

I also have a theory that power eventually corrupts society as the powerful enrich themselves to the detriment of their supporting society--the parasite kills the host. It's already happening the United States. I'm honestly wondering how China, with it's centralized authority structure, has managed to not only survive so long, but actually make advancements as a whole.

The same way the US did. If we would be around 250 years post Chinese empire. I would 100% wager you that they will take a very similar path as the us. Because the US did similar to the countries that came before it. And they did similar to the countries that came before them. I'm 100% on the same page with you about power corrupting. That's why it happens and with their centralized system they may not let the information or data out that it is happening. But it is happening.