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Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)
7. I think you mean white elephant (ruinous gift). Trojan horse would refer to any espionage bugs. So could be both
Mon May 12, 2025, 12:09 AM
May 2025

If the Thai king wanted to ruin some domestic adversary, he would give them a white elephant. Because it was from the king the person could not give it away because that would disrespect the king and the person would be shunned by everyone and go down. So the person had to pay for upkeep and feeding and maintenance that they could not afford and would go down that way. Plus people would consider the recipient to be rich and expect them to be generous in turn, spending money in the community, which they would soon not be able to afford.

Here's a better explanation:

The term derives from the sacred white elephants kept by Southeast Asian monarchs in Burma, Thailand (Siam), Laos and Cambodia.[2] To possess a white elephant was regarded—and is still regarded in Thailand and Burma—as a sign that the monarch reigned with justice and power, and that the kingdom was blessed with peace and prosperity. The opulence expected of anyone who owned a beast of such stature was great. Monarchs often exemplified their possession of white elephants in their formal titles (e.g., Hsinbyushin, lit. 'Lord of the White Elephant' and the third monarch of the Konbaung dynasty).[3] Because the animals were considered sacred and laws protected them from labor, receiving a gift of a white elephant from a monarch was simultaneously a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing because the animal was sacred and a sign of the monarch's favour, and a curse because the recipient now had an animal that was expensive to maintain, could not be given away, and could not be put to much practical use.


The Trojan Horse had a military weapon inside (a cadre of special forces military). There would likely be bugs in the plane that Russia (for example) could exploit on the ground by tapping into whatever stream the Qataris obtained from the plane.

So perhaps it is both.

Recommendations

2 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Nothing is free..not even kittens. This "gift" is not his as it will belong to the country if it ever happens Deuxcents May 2025 #1
Someone tell man baby no? SheltieLover May 2025 #2
They're probably afraid. calimary May 2025 #14
Then they should grow spines SheltieLover May 2025 #19
Then they should resign and find safer jobs. 2MuchNoise May 2025 #29
Pffft. Repukes pushing back from the lush Fed feeding trough? SheltieLover May 2025 #31
Anyone with a lick of sense would be suspicious of such an expensive gift from a country with extensive ties to Hamas. tanyev May 2025 #3
This "gift" is far from free and why is Qatar so generous? Where will this sky palace be parked.. Deuxcents May 2025 #4
I think you mean white elephant (ruinous gift). Trojan horse would refer to any espionage bugs. So could be both Bernardo de La Paz May 2025 #7
Yes, the Trojan Horse analogy occurred to me, too. tanyev May 2025 #22
One detail I DID see... Miles Archer May 2025 #23
Air Force One is not a corporate jet... Wounded Bear May 2025 #5
It should be called Whore House One, not Air Force One. SunSeeker May 2025 #13
how much gold spray paint did you use? all of it. nt Javaman May 2025 #26
Probably the Qatari espionage bugs are also free and step-bugged by Russia Bernardo de La Paz May 2025 #6
So..that white elephant could be loaded with nefarious bugs wrapped in gold leaf?! Deuxcents May 2025 #9
Trojan Horse (had special forces military inside). Plane more T Horse than W.E. because US could afford upkeep. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz May 2025 #10
Hmmm...one might be more expensive with upkeep than the other but they're both budget busters Deuxcents May 2025 #11
Def not helpful to the budget, not needed. Plus I'm pretty sure it would need lots of mods for command center Bernardo de La Paz May 2025 #12
While this Orange thing you describe is Stealing Money Cha May 2025 #8
It is almost as if Old Crank May 2025 #15
She'll cuddle up to him just the same. BurnDoubt May 2025 #17
No one in this "deal" is trustworthy. BurnDoubt May 2025 #16
Pammie, bribed DA, Old Crank May 2025 #18
What's REALLY sick is that tomorrow, MAGA TWO-DOLLS B.See May 2025 #20
They have been citing the "HE GAVE UP HIS SALARY!" thing incessantly. Miles Archer May 2025 #24
Shitstain got angry when informed that he couldn't decorate Trump Airlines planes with marble . . . hatrack May 2025 #21
because there was some weird quid pro quo going on and now he can't do the quo part so no quid. nt Javaman May 2025 #25
Is there a problem with the current Air Force One? bif May 2025 #27
Just read something on this today, its from Bush 1, they started their life in 1990 thatdemguy May 2025 #28
It's probably not gold enough. Vinca May 2025 #33
Fat Orange Rapist Felon Grampy Jesus can go to hell. Dave Bowman May 2025 #30
Yes, accept a plane from a country with ties to Hamas pinkstarburst May 2025 #32
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