My posts were a direct response and on-point to your posts.
As far as the "op's" posts ... he seems slow. I wouldn't waste time responding more than one sentence to his posts...if that.
Will Russia invade Ukraine
- Thread starter VicBee
- Start date
As far as the "op's" posts ... he seems slow. I wouldn't waste time responding more than one sentence to his posts...if that.
Part of my past training was as a Soviet-East Europe specialist, and I travelled very extensively in that region long ago. My strongest sense about all of the recent headlines was that NOTHING was as it appeared to be, so often the case in that region. I also felt that the current administration has some puzzling ways of enganging in both communication and diplomacy, at times leaning towards hysteria. Thus during that huge VIX spike to end last week I bought a cheap OTM UVXY put. I see this AM that the calculated risk paid off and I will likely exit later today.
This is what I posted in another thread:
Some say, why offend Russia? Why not agree to no NATO on its border?
The answer is simple. Because Russia isn't trying to protect Russians from western democracy, it's trying to protect its oligarchy of military brass and industrial barons, Russia's 1% who stand to lose their power when Russia finally joins the rest of civilized nations.
Let's remember, the Cold War was supposed to be an ideological conflict between communism and capitalism. Yet, we soon found out that Russia simply replaced one political dictatorship with another. It's the only way Russia has ever been governed in its history so it isn't surprising to hear the same assertive, top to bottom discourse in their society.
The novelty there comes from those who seek to establish a democracy, the possibility that various views can be expressed without violence, that the ballot box determines who leads, and that losers abide by the majority vote. It's not an easy proposition, even in a country like the US which has always known democracy.
Russia's only enemy is itself, controlled by a small oligarchy that will do whatever it takes to stay in power, raising the usual nationalistic pride to cover up the true extent of their pilferage.
The US and Europe are making it clear that Putin has no domination rights over its border nations. Putin isn't crazy. He isn't going to risk a pointless war that will sanction Russia's elites because he knows that at the end of the day, neither the US nor Europe care about Ukraine which is just a pretext to squeeze Putin and probably make him pay dearly for his interference in US politics.
Some say, why offend Russia? Why not agree to no NATO on its border?
The answer is simple. Because Russia isn't trying to protect Russians from western democracy, it's trying to protect its oligarchy of military brass and industrial barons, Russia's 1% who stand to lose their power when Russia finally joins the rest of civilized nations.
Let's remember, the Cold War was supposed to be an ideological conflict between communism and capitalism. Yet, we soon found out that Russia simply replaced one political dictatorship with another. It's the only way Russia has ever been governed in its history so it isn't surprising to hear the same assertive, top to bottom discourse in their society.
The novelty there comes from those who seek to establish a democracy, the possibility that various views can be expressed without violence, that the ballot box determines who leads, and that losers abide by the majority vote. It's not an easy proposition, even in a country like the US which has always known democracy.
Russia's only enemy is itself, controlled by a small oligarchy that will do whatever it takes to stay in power, raising the usual nationalistic pride to cover up the true extent of their pilferage.
The US and Europe are making it clear that Putin has no domination rights over its border nations. Putin isn't crazy. He isn't going to risk a pointless war that will sanction Russia's elites because he knows that at the end of the day, neither the US nor Europe care about Ukraine which is just a pretext to squeeze Putin and probably make him pay dearly for his interference in US politics.
Maybe follow the chain/context then? I'm not responding to the OP; who knows, maybe you got the dude on ignore
Must be Trump supporters with such dumb ideas like this.
Along the lines of:
Why not get rid of all US nuclear weapons and just let Russia have them all?
I think the "hysteria" is tactical one upmanship. It's calling Russia's bluff by giving the buildup an undeserved seriousness, even if understood to be posturing. Still, moving 130k troops and equipment is an expensive endeavor, even if a geopolitical chess move.
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Not to a "dictator."
Russia gave democracy a try. A short one before this asshole came to power.
nah, i've seen it spouted by lefties who think "American interventionism always bad"
He's opportunistic, he'd probably have invaded if POTUS had been neutered by the opposition like during Crimea.
Agree.