Just a week ago I wrote that I was afraid that once the images of the true horror of war start coming, once Putin ramps up the destruction, the calls for the West to "do something to stop it" might become so great that the leaders of the West wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of the public demanding to go to war.
Just a week ago I wrote that I was afraid that once the images of the true horror of war start coming, once Putin ramps up the destruction, the calls for the West to "do something to stop it" might become so great that the leaders of the West wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of the public demanding to go to war.
And here we are...
Responsible people are calling for the West to "do more." The big push right now is for weapons (fighter jets), but the call for soldiers will be soon coming because air power never won a war.
Biden is right for making it clear that NATO/the US will not fight for Ukraine. This has been clear from the very beginning: Ukraine was on its own and was going to suffer horribly. Terrible as that is, it is the price for preventing the war from taking over all of Europe.
The best one could have hoped for was that Putin took Ukraine and stopped there, not moving on the Baltics/Poland. Now, there's an outside chance that Ukraine might actually "win" (Not having the whole country become part of Russia). Biden is right for trying to tamp down the drumbeats of war.
I do not trust the American people; they have the attention span of a gnat. RIGHT NOW they support military action. RIGHT NOW they feel for the Ukrainians. But I've got $100 that says if the US puts boots inside Ukraine, and those bodies start coming home, at least half the country will be screaming about how terrible Biden was for sending those boys to die.
There have been as many, or more, casualties in two weeks - on both sides - than the US suffered in 20 years of combat IN TWO THEATERS (Iraq, Afghanistan). People seem to forget how bloody the wars in Europe have been for the last 400 years; the last century being the deadliest and most destructive.
Sending US troops means LOT OF US deaths, and Americans are not going to tolerate that. At all. They will revert back to their isolationist selves.
But at that point, it will be far too late and the world will be committed to a full-scale war in Europe.
Well, considering Russia's army is running on fumes (asking China for weapons!) as is the economy, Russia is probably done taking countries when, and if, it takes Ukraine. I seriously doubt Russia/Putin is going to just launch nukes at the US (vs a tactical one in Ukraine - real possibility), so his conventional war will likely end with Ukraine.
China...Probably want to take Taiwan. They don't seem keen to be imperialists and take over SE Asia, Japan - just want to be the big dog. (Taiwan is a key to controlling the S China Sea.) But - again - it doesn't seem likely that China is going to be attacking the US proper anytime soon.
Same with Iran - don't see them attacking the US anytime soon.
I appreciate that view. But those who know Putin best (well, better than most?), like Fiona Hill, for instance, say he will never stop. I just read that Merkel told Obama years ago that Putin was no longer rational and that was then. And the more cornered he is, the more dangerous. I take your points about China and Iran, though neither can be trusted or predicted, but Putin does not seem very smart.
What Putin wants to do and what his military is capable of are two entirely different things. The last three weeks have shown that the Russian military would be no match for the US/NATO.
Of course he can attack NATO and cause a whole lot of destruction and death, but he is not going to roll through Europe.
Now, using nukes is another story, but if he’s that unhinged and decides that’s the way to win, there is no deterrent on earth that is going to change his mind - he’s unhinged.
Just a week ago I wrote that I was afraid that once the images of the true horror of war start coming, once Putin ramps up the destruction, the calls for the West to "do something to stop it" might become so great that the leaders of the West wouldn't be able to withstand the pressure of the public demanding to go to war.
And here we are...
Responsible people are calling for the West to "do more." The big push right now is for weapons (fighter jets), but the call for soldiers will be soon coming because air power never won a war.
Biden is right for making it clear that NATO/the US will not fight for Ukraine. This has been clear from the very beginning: Ukraine was on its own and was going to suffer horribly. Terrible as that is, it is the price for preventing the war from taking over all of Europe.
The best one could have hoped for was that Putin took Ukraine and stopped there, not moving on the Baltics/Poland. Now, there's an outside chance that Ukraine might actually "win" (Not having the whole country become part of Russia). Biden is right for trying to tamp down the drumbeats of war.
I do not trust the American people; they have the attention span of a gnat. RIGHT NOW they support military action. RIGHT NOW they feel for the Ukrainians. But I've got $100 that says if the US puts boots inside Ukraine, and those bodies start coming home, at least half the country will be screaming about how terrible Biden was for sending those boys to die.
There have been as many, or more, casualties in two weeks - on both sides - than the US suffered in 20 years of combat IN TWO THEATERS (Iraq, Afghanistan). People seem to forget how bloody the wars in Europe have been for the last 400 years; the last century being the deadliest and most destructive.
Sending US troops means LOT OF US deaths, and Americans are not going to tolerate that. At all. They will revert back to their isolationist selves.
But at that point, it will be far too late and the world will be committed to a full-scale war in Europe.
Serious question: What makes you think Putin (China/Iran) will STOP until we are all dead??
Well, considering Russia's army is running on fumes (asking China for weapons!) as is the economy, Russia is probably done taking countries when, and if, it takes Ukraine. I seriously doubt Russia/Putin is going to just launch nukes at the US (vs a tactical one in Ukraine - real possibility), so his conventional war will likely end with Ukraine.
China...Probably want to take Taiwan. They don't seem keen to be imperialists and take over SE Asia, Japan - just want to be the big dog. (Taiwan is a key to controlling the S China Sea.) But - again - it doesn't seem likely that China is going to be attacking the US proper anytime soon.
Same with Iran - don't see them attacking the US anytime soon.
I appreciate that view. But those who know Putin best (well, better than most?), like Fiona Hill, for instance, say he will never stop. I just read that Merkel told Obama years ago that Putin was no longer rational and that was then. And the more cornered he is, the more dangerous. I take your points about China and Iran, though neither can be trusted or predicted, but Putin does not seem very smart.
What Putin wants to do and what his military is capable of are two entirely different things. The last three weeks have shown that the Russian military would be no match for the US/NATO.
Of course he can attack NATO and cause a whole lot of destruction and death, but he is not going to roll through Europe.
Now, using nukes is another story, but if he’s that unhinged and decides that’s the way to win, there is no deterrent on earth that is going to change his mind - he’s unhinged.
And as that seems likely, then it is up to his generals to stop him, which has always seemed the likeliest outcome to this madness.
Agree with this 100%. An awful lot of armchair geopolitics being waged by people on a Twitter timescale right now.
I don't understand the value of insulting gnats.