I don't. I have no idea what his reaction would be if the situation were different. He is unpredictable. It might well be just what he's said in this circumstance. Maybe he bears a grudge over the failure to force them to investigate Biden corruption.
I do not think of him as any sort of leader. I am not a Trump apologist.
Lots of people know the history, but there is no will. What does the West stand for? What ideas are worth dying for? Russian troops probably think Russia is. Ukrainians certainly think Ukraine is. French? Germans? Americans? There are some holding on to old ideas, but the thought leaders have all moved on. National interest is so out of date.
They will stay 'moved on' until those who have the will decide to impose it.
All that said, this isn't 1938. Putin isn't trying to destroy the world in the name of an ideological mission (either Communism or Racism).
He and his friends just want to control it and make money in the process.
yup. The bite went out with Iraq and Afghanistan. Armies bit great, when they tried to be friendly and uplifting and that didn't work they seem to have just crumpled.
They should be. Which is why I don't want western troops on scene. But the Ruble and Russian stock market popped right up after the complete lack of real Western response was unveiled.
They have no allies. The West won't even suspend gas purchases and SWIFT. This total lack of response can domino quickly. China has a great opportunity to attack Taiwan, Iran UAE etc... It is quite scary - I happen to live in one of the target zones.
The US is weak. Everybody knows it. Biden is just weak and predictable as opposed to weak and unpredictable. You never would have done this with Trump - but not because he was some moral giant. You wouldn't have done it because you wouldn't have KNOWN how Trump would respond. The unknowns allowed him to play stronger than he was.
No, of course not. The West can easily survive without Russian goods and energy. It did just fine while the USSR existed and the USSR controlled a lot more territory. It was the Russians who suffered - and forgot what that meant.
Latest Comments
Bring Back The Curtain
NATO was already weak. People other than the U.S. needed to pay their fair share and never had. Trump's shakeup was realistic, imo.
That said, I am incredibly unimpressed with the man in general. His quote, though stupid, didn't quite praise what is happening.
He also said Putin played his cards very well. True. He also said Biden's non-response was very sad. Also true.
He said it in an idiotic way, but those who have quoted it have been guilty of some cherry picking.
Bring Back The Curtain
I don't. I have no idea what his reaction would be if the situation were different. He is unpredictable. It might well be just what he's said in this circumstance. Maybe he bears a grudge over the failure to force them to investigate Biden corruption.
I do not think of him as any sort of leader. I am not a Trump apologist.
But he is unpredictable.
Bring Back The Curtain
I have friends in Czechia who are very afraid.
Lots of people know the history, but there is no will. What does the West stand for? What ideas are worth dying for? Russian troops probably think Russia is. Ukrainians certainly think Ukraine is. French? Germans? Americans? There are some holding on to old ideas, but the thought leaders have all moved on. National interest is so out of date.
They will stay 'moved on' until those who have the will decide to impose it.
All that said, this isn't 1938. Putin isn't trying to destroy the world in the name of an ideological mission (either Communism or Racism).
He and his friends just want to control it and make money in the process.
Bring Back The Curtain
yup. The bite went out with Iraq and Afghanistan. Armies bit great, when they tried to be friendly and uplifting and that didn't work they seem to have just crumpled.
Bring Back The Curtain
They should be. Which is why I don't want western troops on scene. But the Ruble and Russian stock market popped right up after the complete lack of real Western response was unveiled.
Bring Back The Curtain
They have no allies. The West won't even suspend gas purchases and SWIFT. This total lack of response can domino quickly. China has a great opportunity to attack Taiwan, Iran UAE etc... It is quite scary - I happen to live in one of the target zones.
Bring Back The Curtain
The US is weak. Everybody knows it. Biden is just weak and predictable as opposed to weak and unpredictable. You never would have done this with Trump - but not because he was some moral giant. You wouldn't have done it because you wouldn't have KNOWN how Trump would respond. The unknowns allowed him to play stronger than he was.
Bring Back The Curtain
Maybe, we'll see if Putin decides to extend his reach in other directions. Ukraine has no allies, though.
Bring Back The Curtain
No, of course not. The West can easily survive without Russian goods and energy. It did just fine while the USSR existed and the USSR controlled a lot more territory. It was the Russians who suffered - and forgot what that meant.
Bring Back The Curtain
Even before. Think Georgia in 2008. Or even the apartment bombings that brought Putin to power.