It’s not like there aren’t strong militaries in Europe already. They just aren’t coordinated without NATO.
People talk about avoiding WWIII by not getting involved, ignoring that was the exact strategy leading up to WWII. If people really thought Putin wouldn't have crossed the line against NATO, what would have been the harm of Ukraine joining? Either you think it would have protected Ukraine or you think Putin would wage war against NATO.
WWII was a literal world war, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, spreading across four continents. The America's were largely spared. Putin can't even take Ukraine even with NATO's hands tied behind its back. Putin invading Ukraine is not a catalyst like Nazi Germany. Ukraine was never eligible to join NATO. The only people in the US supporting US war efforts for Ukraine now are the one's who are told they should. Its not our war. Let Europe handle it.
Why isn’t it “our war”? And why is it better for the US to cede global power to the Illiberal World Order led by China? China is going to invade Taiwan and is watching how the world reacts to the Russian invasion. Do you also think we should not doing anything militarily when China invades Taiwan? Europe is providing lots of aid and assistance while US providing arms (since we have a massive Cold War stockpile) to Ukraine. The point of that post was to say that appeasement just doesn’t work, it only emboldens people like Putin and Xi.
Perhaps if Russia hadn't already taken military action against Chechnya, and Georgia, and had invaded Ukraine before and then expanded its invasion, that might make sense. When Nazi Germany already annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia before invading Poland. At that time it wasn't officially WWII. Although there are some historians that mark the start of WWII with the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. But ignoring authoritarian leaders who invade without provocation has a track record of not ending well.
History doesn’t always repeat but it rhymes. It sucks that WW2 shows what happens when you try and appease bullies, they just bully more.
It's cute seeing people act like they are experts because they watched WW2 in color or something. Not every regional conflict results in a world war.
WWI wasn't our war. WWII wasn't our war until Japan decided it was, and we could have just stayed out of the European side of it. How much of Putin's inability to take Ukraine has been because of US & NATO's backing? Ukraine was never eligible to join, but isn't that the excuse for Russian invading Ukraine? That they didn't want them to join NATO? If the Treaty of Versailles was enforced in the Rhineland, they'd have easily defeated an ill prepared Germany. It isn't our war. But one day it could be. The objective has been to stop Russia here to make sure it doesn't become ours later, and it starts being our troops instead of just our $$$ and equipment. I was actually against funding Ukraine early on. I figured they would fall so quickly that it would be a complete waste. But they've proven far more resilient than I every dreamed.
Yes turning our military inwards and using it inside US borders will really show the world that they should fear us!!!
Fine don’t use the WW2 analogy. Use Tolkein and Lord of the Rings. People like Space Ghost and the wannabe isolationists that represent some countries are like the Trees in the Two Towers. Everyone who has seen or read the book remembers the speech Merry gives Treebeard before Treebeard decides it’s not his war. He has to see firsthand how other people’s war and greed will eventually affect him and who he loves too. What Putin, Kim Jung and co. are trying to do is inescapable for Americans to avoid. We are part of this world and we have to have the foresight to understand that and understand what is isolated that we should avoid militarily and what is affecting us directly. Even in cases where military intervention isn’t necessary (which is by far most cases) you should always be involved diplomatically. America is part of this world and I think everyone understand history, literal works, etc. that have proven that point over and over. People making this point have either lost sight of how the world works or the are self interested in America suffering in the long run by allowing ourselves to be attacked while we think we are just bystanders.
That’s a bit the pot calling the kettle black, no? A conflict between Ukraine and Russia… that is being aided by US, Europe, S Korea, China, North Korea, and Iran….? Those last three countries certainly have no ideas of attacking their neighbors and aren’t providing each military tech, resources, and intelligence with Russia. Maybe you should have watched the colorized WW2 special… or keep up with current events?
No. I'm not the one making these juvenile comparisons. Belligerents are supplied with weapons by other countries with competing interests in the outcome of the conflict all the time. So what? Doesn't mean WWIII is the next step after this conflict ends. You people live in fantasy land with your notions of WWIII. You spend half your time mocking Russian capabilities and the other half telling us how they are going to take over the world.
But when one military power invades and annexes multiple nations and it goes unchecked, when has that ended without that power being stopped militarily? Perhaps with your expertise you could fill us all in. But try and hurry because WWII in color is starting soon and I don't want to miss it.
Oooo let me construct highly tailored and specific "gotcha" question next. The United States seized 1/3rd of Mexico and then seized the Philippines, Guam and Puerto Rico later in the 19th century. We won both wars decidedly, were not stopped militarily and haven't conquered any territory sense.
Thank you for your response. Wasn't that part of the Spanish American War, and not unprovoked invasion? I know we can get into the whole sinking of the Maine and Yellow journalism and all of that.
I still contend we should offer a settlement......The areas under Russian control get to vote to see what they want - and the Ukraine gets NATO membership. DD
