Although it would perhaps tell something of Biden's mind when it comes to dealing with crisis. Did he show his senility, or did he show hawkish judgement? Just drop the small problems. Focus on the big ones, like a chance to dissolve Russia back to its constituent particles for a second time running. — apokrisis
I posted above about information autocracy. Putin exists because the propaganda system has evolved on that side of game as well. — apokrisis
For me, in the case of Ukraine, it's important to try and stop a nuclear disaster, which, though not certain, is within the realm of possibility. — Manuel
I don't think disliking the Taliban is a good reason to allow millions of people to die of starvation. That's a big issue, with a solution. — Manuel
How does this pragmatic approach get started when one side is run by a man in a bunker calmly loading his revolver for the final scene? You make it sound like something his opponents could initiate by themselves. — Paine
Not perhaps with the ferocity as during the war — ssu
Staking a lot of people and future on such a reason (unjustified at the moment), speaking on their behalf, is a bit bold (perhaps presumptuous, especially if it's not your children that have to live with that decision), at least it seems that way to me. — jorndoe
We are not supporting Ukraine for humanitarian reasons though, but to protect ourselves. — Olivier5
It's called geopolitics, not boyscoutism. — Olivier5
I'm not sure if literally on day 2 people were talking that. You have to give a reference to that.Yes, "collapse" has been predicted since literally day 2 of the invasion. — boethius
With what troops, that's the question. The newly mobilized troops can basically formed into battle capable formations likely for some spring offensive. Now the question is to avoid Russian forces to be pocketed in the Kherson region, so I guess the few troops they have should go to stop the Ukrainian advance.It should also be noted that this is an immense strategic advantage for Russia, as although Ukraine is limited in this way, Russia is not. A Russian offensive can enter Ukraine at any point along the Russian-Ukraine border, and perhaps Belarus as well. — boethius
Borders are nothing but convenient administrative units. We're all one people. There are no races, no nations. The notion that there are is what causes these wars in the first place. We've no business causing even so much as stubbed toe over the idea of 'national sovereignty' let alone war, as if there were some unit of people who all think alike and need to have their wishes separately heard.
Even if there were such a group in Eastern Ukraine. a group passionate about freedom (Western style), so passionate that they'd be willing to lay down their lives for it. Then by far the best outcome is that they join Russia. Swell the ranks of the dissenting voices in Russia and increase the chances of a regime change there that would benefit the whole nation. Their voices are wasted in Ukraine, which already is heading that way, they'll objectively do more good as part of Russia. — Isaac
Oh now it's just humanitarian goals, and hell to Westphalian sovereignty?Sovereignty for some group over some territory is not a humanitarian goal. — Isaac
who cares about the Uighurs? — Olivier5
We care about Ukraine because we identify with them, because we could very well be next. — Olivier5
he says that in politics, naįve boyscouts often do more damage than shrewd calculators. — Olivier5
So why didn't your country surrender to Hitler and join the Third Reich and then "swell the ranks of the dissenting voices in Germany and increase the chances of a regime change there that would benefit thte whole nation". — ssu
America, France, Engalnd are unequivocally not next on Putin's hit-list. — Isaac
It's one of the people who've been critical of all the pro-western cheerleading, what a surprise. — Isaac
That was different. To defend against the Nazi threat was justified, because of the wickedness of Nazi ideology. But Ukrainians should join Putin's Russia (which as I stated earlier, fought a genocidal war against the Chechens...which were/are citizens of Russia, actually). — ssu
To defend against the Nazi threat was justified, because of the wickedness of Nazi ideology. But Ukrainians should join Putin's Russia (which as I stated earlier, fought a genocidal war against the Chechens...which were/are citizens of Russia, actually). — ssu
I've got nothing in response to that — Isaac
And how many of the British Jews that would have saved? At the start of WW2, there were about half a million jews living in the UK. Add the over 50 000 that escaped to the British Isles.That might have been a solution, yes. It may well have saved thousands of lives on both sides. — Isaac
The claim I'm making is that from the treatment of the Chechens showcases the way that Putin would handle the territories that he has annexed from Ukraine. Similar treatment of "Russian citizens".but the claim that the holocaust was similar to the Russian invasion of Chechnya is not claim I'd want to risk making in, say, Germany or Poland. — Isaac
The claim I'm making is that from the treatment of the Chechens showcases the way that Putin would handle the territories that he has annexed from Ukraine. Similar treatment of "Russian citizens". — ssu
if you want to embarrass yourself by claiming that the difference between Nazi Germany and 1930s England is about the same as the difference between modern Russia and modern Ukraine, then I'm not even going to contest it. It's such a ludicrous claim that it doesn't even deserve comment, you crack on. — Isaac
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