Are you willing for the US to go to war to achieve your objective ? Because that's the only way to make it happen.MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Mon Mar 20, 2023 11:13 amSerious answer? Yes.old salt wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 9:27 pmSerious question. Do you think it would be in our strategic interest if the Russian Federation came apart ?MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 8:51 pmYeah, Doc is the reason Putin is a war criminal.old salt wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 7:25 pmThat's the propaganda that Putin is using to stoke the paranoia of the Russian people & generate support for this war.DocBarrister wrote: ↑Sun Mar 19, 2023 1:59 pm The Russian Federation is a rump malignancy … the remnant of two prior failed states, the Soviet Union and Russian Empire.
The Russian Federation is dangerous … nothing will change that. The long-term strategic goal should be to neutralize Russia politically and economically, while castrating its military.
The neocon, globalist decadent West is out to further dismember Mother Russia. It plays right into Putin's hands.
Yes or No ? with no equivocating about democratic transition, blah, blah. There's no way that can be assured.
Do you think it's worth the risk of unforeseen consequences, given that we're demonstrating that Putin can be contained, when not deterred ?
Obviously that's just the binary answer, since you demand such.
You don't want "equivocation", but I feel the same way about the CCP.
Putin's Russia, the "Russian Federation", is now an authoritarian kleptocracy with outlandish ambitions to dominate their neighbors through force and propaganda. Their regime is correctly understood as "evil", endorsing its continuation as such is to endorse "evil".
Of course, there's a heck of a lot of challenge to how to affect change in Russia...does it require a "failed state" chaos, or can there be moderation under different leadership?
No, we're actually not demonstrating that Putin can be contained. He's unleashed horrific war crimes on his neighbor, having failed to achieve hegemony through corruption and propaganda, which he is actively attempting in multiple countries...including here in the US. It's not "contained" at all.
And it will continue if there is any faltering in Western resolve.
This constant blaming of weaker neighbors for not being stronger, while also blaming their decision to seek strong allies and democracy...as if those are "invitations" to war atrocities, is just gross, Putinesque propaganda.
I've read your back and forth with a fan, and he's right...if we understand and accept that the "Russian" (Putin hardliner) mindset is as you say, then we much recognize that there will be no peace without Putin's defeat.
I think that begins with the Russian military turning tail and retreating to pre 2014, internationally recognized, Russian Federation recognized borders. The Russians can sort themselves from there, but the only path back to international legitimacy and economic prosperity that the West should offer is with a new leadership willing to hold war criminals accountable and to provide, at least in part, some reparations...and, of course, the return of the stolen children of Ukraine...
Your sympathy for "weaker neighbor" Ukraine & our under-prepared EU NATO allies is naive. The newer NATO members have had 30+ years of EU prosperity to bolster their defenses. Poland is the only new member who has done so. One of the reasons that Sweden & Finland are so welcome in joining NATO is because they've had to build their own defenses without free-riding on US coat tails. The front line Baltic states have no fighter jets or tanks of their own. Slovakia just gave all their fighters (11 Mig-29s) to Ukraine. Bulgaria has 11 questionably airworthy Mig-29's. Romania is finally buying some used F-16's from Norway but half their interceptors are still 50 year old Mig-21's. The Czechs & Hungary each lease 12 Gripens from Sweden. That's the air power our E flank NATO allies can launch to defend NATO from the air. Germany's military readiness is still a joke. They're backsliding on spending more on their own defense, citing their donations to Ukraine & increased energy costs.
We can't even positively influence our W hemisphere neighbors & you think we can convert the Russian Federation & Communist China.
Reparations, war crimes tribunals ? As soon as the shooting stops, the rehab of Russia will begin by rapacious EUroburghers seeking cheaper energy & resources & a return to Russia as a market.