Rationalization is not an excuse for behavior. It is an assessment to not make the same mistake twice or an assessment to streamline and improve on the desired result. If it's not working you do something else. It's that simple and NATO isn't the answer. Putin doesn't have the military might to take on the west and he knows that. At this point we can haggle all we want about the past and what Putin has done concerning Crimea but again that is a result of Ukraine in 2014. Crimea was mainly Russian to begin with (annexed in 1783) and whether we approve or not the civil unrest going on in the Ukraine at the time prompted the Crimean response. We can certainly entertain the notion that Putin isn't going to stop with Ukraine and move on to Poland or any number of nations that surround Russia. My belief is Putin doesn't have the army to take on the allied nations of NATO and he knows this. Could Putin be the patsy in a grander scheme for China and others to join in? That's certainly a possibility and one that requires considerable thought. Both Russia and NATO allies have expended significant resources in dealing with Ukraine at this point along with inflation woes, COVID, and mounting debt. China being fresh entering the fray would be an entirely new ball game. Not to mention other bad actors that could flare up such as Iran and North Korea. Don't get me wrong we are in a delicate situation and Putin knows this as does the rest of the world. Could we all be headed for WW III? That possibility is certainly on the table.
What a bunch of BS. But it's ok for Putin to get help from Belarus & possibly stage nukes there? Why because it makes it harder to attack civilians? Keep sending them. He's just looking for excuses to escalate.
You and the author are parroting Putin. It wasn’t a problem when it was happening. It was a problem to Putin personally who viewed the collapsing of the Soviet Union as the single most consequential event in history. It is a surprising position and typically spread by pacifists. Do you really think if NATO had not expanded Putin would have happily stayed in his lane and out of those other country’s affairs?
More on the Russians complaining about lethal aid: " “Another myth that had been propagated by the EU in the past — that their unilateral restrictions, which are illegitimate under international law, are not directed against the Russian people — has been finally dispelled. Brussels functionaries, who until recently portrayed themselves as our country's ‘strategic partner’, are not hiding any longer: they intend to inflict maximum damage on Russia, hit its weak points, seriously destroy its economy and suppress its economic growth,” the statement read. The statement continued: “We want to assure you it will not. The actions of the European Union will not go unanswered. Russia will continue to ensure the realization of its vital national interests without regard to sanctions and their threats. It is time for Western countries to understand that their undivided dominance in the global economy is long a thing of the past." Doesn't sound like they care about the sanctions at all....no matter what happens.
From CNN live: "International Criminal Court opens investigation into Russian invasion of Ukraine The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, will open an investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “rapidly as possible,” ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan said in a statement Monday. Following a preliminary examination into the situation, Khan said he confirmed that there is a reasonable basis to “believe that both alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Ukraine.”
Yeah, just let Putin have free reign to conquer Europe country by country and he'll have nothing to complain about. Brilliant strategy.
Question: doesn't the UN have a peacekeeping force that can get in there and help, at the very least with logistics, evacuations, etc? That would free up Ukranians to fight, and then they can ensure there aren't bad characters using race to keep people from boarding? Also help with some cohesiveness with who is being evacuated, procedures, etc.
I think many nations would have gotten involved regardless of NATO if Putin went down that path. Some seem to believe Putin wants to rule the world my contention is he does not and he certainly is no Alexander the Great nor does he have the resources to pull it off.
From my link above: "It is time for Western countries to understand that their undivided dominance in the global economy is long a thing of the past." He's trying to control what country can do what when, threatening with nukes, etc, and you say he doesn't want to rule the world. No just a huge, USSR or more sized portion of it.
It is quite clear Putin has delusions of grandeur and longs for the days of the Soviet Union. To think he would have been a happy and obedient puppy if only we left Eastern Europe unprotected is incredibly naive.
At the border with Poland? I mean if they're fighting different story and I'd guess it'd be the same as attacking NATO. But I was thinking the biggest help would be evacuation/processing so the Ukranians dealing with it can be free to go fight. At that point, they'd be attacking evacuees in Ukraine & likely hit the Polish side, so they'd be not only guilty of war crimes, that would pull NATO in.
That is interesting. I've always thought ThinkProgress has a couple of bots or full time employees posting here myself.
