That is such a ridiculous statement. The fact is that Putin is taking hostile actions against another country for the purpose of power and Biden is supporting that country and NATO. Trump didn't even do a damn thing when his own followers stormed the Capitol and threatened to hang out Vice President. He sat back and watched. He wants power as bad as Putin, and will lie, cheat, and eat his own to get that power back. He acts all Law and Order but is the exact opposite. He watched them beat down police and did nothing.
No sh** but the thread has overlap with a broader discussion on the entire regions security situation.
Treaties aren't vaccines. Treaties come and go. NATO is not a benefit to the United States. It's a drag upon us. We, effectively, provide the entire military capability of NATO and what do we get?
Biden said exactly what he intended to say and then followed through doing what he said he will do in case of a smaller foray (something the West had planned for). If you really think that this is serious, stick to your president. Give him your support - that is the true show of strength that he needs at this time in order to be able to deter the threat in front of us. This is a stare-off contest at the moment and it seems that we are acting in a unison with Ukraine and Europe to a greater degree. Republicans should align too, as this is a big f'ing deal with big repercussions
I do think that is exactly the correct situation. Putin won this before it even started. He knew what the response would be, decided it wasn't sufficient, and pressed ahead. It is mostly about reestablishing Russian prominence, and that appeared pre-ordained. Have we been the aggressor? Or have we just been the better partner for those countries? Did NATO take them over, or did they willingly join NATO? Alarmed, yes. Start a war to take them back? No. Plus, NATO is inherently a defensive organization. Russia is the opposite. Need to factor that in. Putin's historical analogy left that part out. You know how those places became part of Russia? Russia took them from the Ottomans. So, following his own logic, he was really just laying the case for how they really should be returned to Turkey, no? All just political posturing. This has NOTHING to do with Russian 'security'. They are not under threat. It has everything to do with Russia (well, Putin) wanted to re-establish the old order of things. Taking Ukraine is how he does that. Good article discussing this. Disagree. Exactly the same, and playing out just the same way. Not sure the go forward to WWII is applicable, but who knows. What happens if he continues on into the Baltic States that ARE part of NATO (I don't think he will, but can't rule it out either). Also, Putin has no interest in cutting a deal. Why negotiate for what you can simply take? Tired of hearing all our people talk about 'It's not too late, there is still another way'. We are pleading with him, and just makes us look weak, which is exactly his intention and exactly meets his goals and outcomes (and we cluelessly don't get that). I bring up the Sudetentland (and I think others here as well) not to say we should save it, as you say, I don't know that that is possible (without going to war). It is though a very cautionary, and apt, historical lesson in appeasement, and how that ultimately fails. And we should heed that lesson, I think.
Agree with what he's saying, but don't know know is the right time to say it. As JuanValdex indicated, Putin did win before this even started. That IS genius. As for applying that to our southern border....the analogy doesn't fit there. What large groups of American aligned people live on the other side of the border? We have worked with Mexi Yes, agree. Plus, Russia was very concerned about them being there, creating its own issues. BUT, if they were still there, today's scenario wouldn't likely be playing out, either.
YES! Throughout history, one thing and one thing only is quite clear in these situations...whoever has the power can dictate the outcome. Which, BTW, is just what Putin is doing. The one that might make a difference I don't think they will do. Shut off ALL Russian exports of oil and gas (and might as well shut down all imports too...believe Russia still needs to import food?). BUT this will impact Europe and the US severely as well, especially Europe (which gets 30% of its gas from Russia). Are they willing to do that? If so, that would cripple Russia. Putin, I believe, is betting they won't. I think he's probably right.
Yes, shouldn't have done that (and did edit it out). I am sorry. FWIW, wasn't so much editing as just adding on to it (not knowing you had responded).
What do you want the US respond to be? Are you in line with Sean Hannity - do you feel Putin is the victim and deserves our support and the real enemy are the libs?
Bet Ukraine wishes they hadn't given up their nukes. Anybody think Pootie-Poot would be acting the same if there were several thousand megatons of boom pointing back at him?
I see a widespread GOP disinformation campaign happening right now that is downright absurd. The GOP is trying to prey on peoples ignorance, and are banking that people won't see or understand that we are sending troops to NATO countries, and not Ukraine. These people are going to do anything they can to bring Biden's approval ratings into the crapper, and try and deny him a moment like a normal president would get when there is an existential threat in the world, and we all sort of come together like after 9/11. They see this moment as a potential moment that Biden will have that pulls his support up, so it's full blown disinformation at this point.
Jab at Biden, I think. But I don't think it's good, even if accurate. Putin IS completely outplaying the West, and getting what he wants. That IS basically genius. But praising Putin just brings up all the Russia Russia Russia that he's been fighting for years now, and makes it seem plausible again. He could have said the same thing in a better way, without making it seem like a love fest again. IMHO.
This is completely false. The only hand Putin has to play is Nuclear Weapons, and maybe in the world we live in that's enough to overthrow a country on a whim, but it doesn't make you a "Genius". It's the only thing he has that allows him to pursue this fever dream of being the next Alexander the Great. It's not like he's outflanking the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge or something. This isn't some great strategy. This is Dany in Game of Thrones possibly taking Kings Landing because she has a freaking dragon. Putin is operating more like Kim Jung Un... actually Kim Jung has operated with greater poise. Doing what he's doing now only happens if he is completely isolated in the world, and has no other options. It's not "genius" at all. He failed politically to convince anyone in Ukraine other than a few separatists who are paid by Russia anyways, to rejoin under Putin's Russia. Lithuania, Slovakia, Poland, Finland, etc. all rejected him, and have chosen the West & the EU over Soviet glory. He's lost the fight that matters. Biden could claim tomorrow that Mexico is an "independent state" of the United States, and send in 100,000 "peacekeepers".... at that point would you say that classifies as "Genius??"... what kind of backa$$ thinking do you have to have to think this way? You guys on the right are just obsessed with unbridled power and glorify totalitarianism. Putin is not a "Genius".... he's as much of a "Genius" as Hitler was when he did damn near the same thing when he tried with brute force to take back land that he was aggrieved to have lost when his country lost land after a world war. It's the same sh$t.... it's not "Genius."
