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Peter  V's avatar

I don't have a problem with Biden's comments. I think it would have been far better to not comment further on them though. No apology is needed here. I equate this with Kennedy and Reagan both calling out the Russians in their own administrations. Both the Berlin airlift and the "tear down this wall" moments have stood the test of time.

Sanctions take time. Finding and confiscating all the wealth of the oligarchs takes time. The program was designed to squeeze Russia to capitulation in the world community. Getting impatient at this point is counterproductive.

I do think that supplying arms is absolutely necessary and I don't object to a no fly zone. Suggesting we aren't in direct conflict with Putin is dumb. Of course we are. I don't see this going nuclear since it's still mutually assured destruction. I do not like this notion of a tactical nuke being considered. There's really no such thing.

Biden is doing fine in my estimate . Ukraine needs more weapons and it well may need NATO directly. It would be reasonable to do that before Ukraine is just converted into a parking lot.

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John Robert's avatar

Given the reports of poor Russian morale, I wonder if there's more we could do to stimulate desertion if not outright mutiny.

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rlritt's avatar

Exactly. The Russian people are suffering. The Rissian soldiers don't want to fight. Getting rid of Putin would solve everything.

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Jeff the Original's avatar

Getting rid of Putin would resolve a lot, but we have pretty recent history that removing a dictator does move countries in the right direction, but it is a very rough ride determining who is the next leader and what the new regime will be like.

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Peter  V's avatar

further, the no fly zone need not leave Ukrainian territory. Do that and give Ukraine jets and start dumbing bombs on the fleet in the Black sea.

Sort of "get their attention"

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Scott Gaynor's avatar

Yeah, and "getting their attention" means it's fair game for Russian missiles to hit Polish/NATO bases where those planes come from. Or that Russian anti-aircraft missiles launched from inside Russia are targeted at NATO aircraft - which will lead to NATO targeting said anti-aircraft batteris...INSIDE Russia.

Or do you just supposed that when Russia attacks Polish bases or NATO blows up anti-aircraft batteries in Russia that both side will just ignore that?

(Remember Biden's "not one inch of NATO soil?")

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Peter  V's avatar

So, does NATO cow behind Putin's threats if the West gets involved while Ukraine is slaughtered? . What's next then?

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Scott Gaynor's avatar

Like it or not, Ukraine was written off when the EU countries denied it's membership into NATO (even the EU).

So, if you think the US should go to war with Russia over Ukraine, say so (that's a defensible position).

But to insist that the US fight in Ukraine, and that it would not lead to larger conflict is really naive.

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Peter  V's avatar

well, so far, Putin has demonstrated that his army is quite unprepared for even this. Try to imagine in on three fronts. So far, no one is talking about how the sanctions are hitting back in Moscow. It's hard to believe citizens are happy. I think there are a lot of layers to this onion. Further, I didn't say US, I said NATO.

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Scott Gaynor's avatar

"JUST NATO"? Really?

You really think the NATO countries in Europe are going to go to war while the US sits back and doesn't?

Good grief....

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Peter  V's avatar

The US is a part of NATO..

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HoyaGoon's avatar

There is absolutely no way at all to enforce a no fly zone that does not involve NATO forces killing Russian soldiers. None at all. And that is a huge escalation, whether you agree with it or not.

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Peter  V's avatar

NATO weapons are killing them now. whether you agree with that or not. Ukraine seems quite capable of killing Russian soldiers all by itself.

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R Mercer's avatar

Once we hand them to the Ukrainians they become Ukrainian weapons. While the distinction might seem small, it is important.

It is in the vein of Vlad's "little green men." Everyone knows what is actually going on, but it leaves wiggle room.

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Peter  V's avatar

dumping would be better

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Mar 28, 2022
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Peter  V's avatar

Of course. I've read all of your intelligent riposts. You are one angry man.

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