One thing that I will agree with some of Biden’s critics is that Putin might not have launched an invasion now if Trump had won. I don’t think it’s because he sees Biden as weak but because he doesn’t want to wait longer to see whether Biden could’ve succeeded in rebuilding back NATO. With Trump Russia was already active in Ukraine with supporting the separatists regions. Trump was already weakening NATO and was obviously not a fan of Zelinsky and his Presidency. This isn’t to say that Biden is completely blameless because the withdrawal from Afghanistan was terrible along with other diplomatic missteps like pissing off France with the Austrailia sub deal. Putin might’ve felt that now was the time to strike rather than wait to see if Biden could’ve smoothed things over and had a stronger NATO a year from now. It’s a credit to Biden and a costly mistake to Putin that NATO is now more united than it has been in decades.
What about instituting a no fly zone over some of the Ukraine to stop missiles and jets from leveling the cities? Should that be on the table? DD
I think this might happen if Russia starts bombing the capital, or releases that Thermo-bomb that kills civilians..... DD
It was and Trump isn’t blameless on that but the bulk of it was done under Biden. Up until the day Kabul fell Biden kept on claiming that the Afghan government would be able to hold out for longer.
Interesting interview with Garry Kasparov on Putin’s war with Ukraine. He reiterates some things that have been mentioned here. He feels that both Obama and Trump did a poor job, saying we went from feckless to reckless. Obama did nothing. Trump sabotaged the western coalition. German politicians were bought off and funded his war machine. The Republican party is schizophrenic - Biden is simultaneously too hard and too soft on Putin. And more.
Basically as far as I can tell there are a few different GOP angles on the invasion: 1. It's Biden's fault for expanding NATO and pissing Putin off. He should have just focused on China and let Putin have Ukraine. 2. It's Biden's fault for Russia invading Ukraine because he Putin doesn't like him. 3. It's Biden's fault for NOT expanding NATO and not pissing Putin off enough. He should have taken a harder stance and threatened nuclear war 4. It's Biden's fault for dragging us into this war and risking WWIII all over Ukraine. He's going to get us all killed 5. I don't know what to do or how to think about this, but all I know is it's Biden's fault for this, and inflation, and energy companies going out of business, and China, and Afghanistan, and for making oil prices too low to drive energy companies out of business, and for making them too high that we have to pay a lot at the pump. Basically that's what I can summarize I am getting here.
Looks like some Mig 29s are landing within the hour for the Ukranians....and they are stocked with ordinance. DD
NATO forces can not engaged Russian forces in any way, shape, or form. It's just a non-starter. The risk of nuclear war is too great. Once the bridge is crossed, anything becomes possible, and by anything I mean mushroom clouds in your backyard. We as a divided country have failed collectively in world leadership. After WWII, we rebuilt Germany and Japan and turned them into strong democracies. After the cold war we forgot about Russia and this is what happened. We should have done with Russia what we did with Japan. Take away its military and nukes in exchange for massive economic investment.
Wouldn't you know Bolsonaro won't condemn Putin. He says Brazil will remain neutral over invasion. Trump loves guys like this! Trump lauds 'great friend' Jair Bolsonaro, as the Brazilian president has 9 criminal charges recommended against him Matthew Loh Oct 27, 2021, 12:21 AM https://www.businessinsider.co.za/t...dent-9-criminal-charges-recommended-2021-10-2
Perhaps, but just because you are at war or holding Russia accountable does not mean they use nukes.....but I get your point. DD
Agreed we should avoid direct conflict as long as possible. Disagree with your second premise. We were never in a place to "take away the military" as we never placed Russia in a state of total defeat where we could dictate those terms. I don't know for sure, but I have to believe in the last 30 years we suggested money for disarmament of nukes to them.
Unbelievable that Russia hasn't been able to gain air superiority against a country on their border and now with replacement Migs reported to be flying in this has to be absolutely humiliating.
Yes. They have multiple contradictory stances in addition to their revisionist history regarding Trump and Putin as well as Trump and Ukraine. Their conflicting stances is confusing, but also expected. They haven't had an agenda for anything since before Obama.
