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eppur_se_muova

(39,753 posts)

57. Parts of almost every country in the world were formerly parts of other countries. Maps change constantly.

Sat Aug 9, 2025, 07:50 PM

Aug 9

Should France, Spain, and Great Britain be able to reclaim lands that were formerly part of their empires -- including their American colonies ? Is the US entitled to Cuba and the Philippines, or does Spain get those ?

And how should we restore the Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth, whose borders extended almost all the way to Moscow ? Or the Ottoman Empire, which once ruled Crimea and other territories that are now Russian ? Or Austria-Hungary ?

Remember Serbia's dream of restoring a "Greater Serbia" ? It would include several chunks of territory that had EACH been part of several different empires/countries at different times. Like "Six Flags", but with more bloodshed and tragedy.

Dreams of restoring old empires are deeply toxic. Remember why Hitler talked about a "Third Reich"? And Mussolini, being Italian thought he had the claim to be the new Emperor. Both wanted to "recapture" all the lands of the Roman Empire. Only crazed would-be "world conquerors" are drawn to this dream. That's what we see in Putin, and it's fairly obvious.

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Emrys

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Highlight:

Zelenskyy rejects Trump's proposal that Ukraine could swap territories with Russia [View all] Emrys Aug 9 OP

Game Over no_hypocrisy Aug 9 #1

Who cares about the Nobel outside of his head? Moostache Aug 10 #60

Swap territory. Stupid thing for TACO to consider. He swapped territory with Merv Griffin once ... marble falls Aug 9 #2

The Shart of the Deal. tanyev Aug 9 #3

"But it's really good shit." marble falls Aug 9 #9

Is that the same Taj Mahal . . . AverageOldGuy Aug 9 #6

... and then had it demolished? Yep. marble falls Aug 9 #10

Successful businessman JI7 Aug 9 #17

I remember Trump bragging about how he oasis Aug 9 #7

Back when Bill Clinton saved TACO and his bankers from going under by guaranteeing a billion dollars in new ... marble falls Aug 9 #12

Wow! 2016 "Frontline" segment tells it all. oasis Aug 9 #20

I'd forgotten all about that NJCher Aug 9 #15

Did I Miss Something? DallasNE Aug 9 #16

Exactly what I thought too. What part of Russia does he actually think they are going to "swap?" Ol Janx Spirit Aug 9 #34

47 and Putin are engaged in the mutual masturbation version of the "Art of the Deal." pat_k Aug 9 #50

Hand Tough Zelinski! Chasstev365 Aug 9 #4

Just sayin' . . . AverageOldGuy Aug 9 #5

Russia used to own Alaska, too, until it was purchased by the US. Think the orange monster wants to swap it back... Hekate Aug 9 #44

Why else do you think the meeting will be in Alaska? Diraven Aug 9 #58

Parts of almost every country in the world were formerly parts of other countries. Maps change constantly. eppur_se_muova Aug 9 #57

I suppose Russia could swap some territory in Siberia for the port city of Crimea ToxMarz Aug 9 #8

Maybe they should give Ukraine Moscow. That might be fair given the atrocities Russia has committed. travelingthrulife Aug 9 #22

Mr. trump makes PM Chamberlain look positively descive and insightful in comparisom Torchlight Aug 9 #11

Chamberlain had a much different and frankly vastly weaker hand to play dsc Aug 9 #33

Interesting take! cilla4progress Aug 9 #39

From my readings of the time, that's correct Emrys Aug 9 #55

Stillborn Decisions DallasNE Aug 9 #13

I have a counter-proposal DFW Aug 9 #14

I will trade you my shithole countries Hornedfrog2000 Aug 9 #18

There's Putin putting his foot in the door. It will end up being the same as Putin always wants ck4829 Aug 9 #19

Now we're talking business. ReRe Aug 9 #42

So Trump's brilliant new plan is the same old thing he has been saying. travelingthrulife Aug 9 #21

Worse than that - Emrys Aug 9 #23

Damn 3auld6phart Aug 9 #24

I think Trump enjoys destroying this country. He would do it for free. travelingthrulife Aug 9 #25

Trump will give himself a Knobel Prize anyway. C_U_L8R Aug 9 #26

AS IF Vlad the Invader would ever agree to give up one square centimeter of Russian land to Ukraine! ShazzieB Aug 9 #27

There's also the fact that in some of the disputed territory, Emrys Aug 9 #30

Thanks for the additional info. ShazzieB Aug 9 #32

The shark analogy is spot-on: "He has to keep moving or he'll drown" Hekate Aug 9 #45

K&R ReRe Aug 9 #43

What an absolutely craven suggestion by an absolutely craven little man. malthaussen Aug 9 #28

don't... myohmy2 Aug 9 #29

Just goes to show that Trump is Hey Joe Aug 9 #31

Maybe the meeting in Alaska is to discuss another land swap Bayard Aug 9 #35

Or Alaska? cilla4progress Aug 9 #40

This message was self-deleted by its author Bayard Aug 9 #36

Sounds like Donny brought his knee pads to the meeting. Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Aug 9 #37

We must have cilla4progress Aug 9 #38

Zelenskyy's Answer To Trump DallasNE Aug 9 #41

It's like Zelensky doesn't even want Donny to get the Nobel Peace Prize! tanyev Aug 9 #46

Trump, you're not dealing with a 14 year old nimphet here. Xipe Totec Aug 9 #47

Well, 8 months later we see TSF's plan to end the war in 24 hours. bluestarone Aug 9 #48

A polite way of telling trump to go to hell with Putin his master. republianmushroom Aug 9 #49

This message was self-deleted by its author Jacson6 Aug 9 #51

I say bullshit to this. bluestarone Aug 9 #52

The Meeting Is In The US OhioTim Aug 9 #53

This is a little misleading... WarGamer Aug 9 #54

If you insist, and you're nothing if not tiresomely consistent Emrys Aug 9 #56

Since TACO mentioned 'Swapping' : Bread and Circuses Aug 9 #59

"Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," jfz9580m Aug 10 #61

Doh! It appears Trump was talking out of his arse anyway (BIGLY surprise): Emrys Aug 10 #62