Ukraine invasion

[Mannahnin]

I'm continually leery of US media pieces about how nasty Putin and Russia are, because I still feel seriously burned by all the media cheerleading for the Iraq war (and to a lesser extent, Afghanistan and Libya). While I'm all in favor of supplying Ukraine and letting more countries join NATO, I still really hope this thing doesn't turn into another American war.

We all know Saddam was a brutal, horrible dictator. We also know that our war of choice led to a million+ dead Iraqis and a lot of other horrible damage to their nation and waste of our own blood and treasure.

 

[MGibster]

I'm continually leery of US media pieces about how nasty Putin and Russia are, because I still feel seriously burned by all the media cheerleading for the Iraq war (and to a lesser extent, Afghanistan and Libya).

I suspect we won’t know the full “truth” for quite a while. I am often leery of stories, and especially try to remain skeptical when I’m hearing what I want to hear. What we do know is Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation.

And don’t worry about this turning into an American war. It’s much more likely to turn into a European war with American involvement. Something my grandparents would be familiar with.

 

[Mannahnin]

I suspect we won’t know the full “truth” for quite a while. I am often leery of stories, and especially try to remain skeptical when I’m hearing what I want to hear. What we do know is Russia invaded Ukraine without provocation.

Yes. I think the conflict in Crimea specifically is probably more complex and nasty than people in the US are mostly interested in hearing about (possibly with no "good guys"), but at base, Russia's the aggressive party here, and their justifications for invasion reek of DARVO.

 

[nedjer]

I'm continually leery of US media pieces about how nasty Putin and Russia are, because I still feel seriously burned by all the media cheerleading for the Iraq war (and to a lesser extent, Afghanistan and Libya). While I'm all in favor of supplying Ukraine and letting more countries join NATO, I still really hope this thing doesn't turn into another American war.

We all know Saddam was a brutal, horrible dictator. We also know that our war of choice led to a million+ dead Iraqis and a lot of other horrible damage to their nation and waste of our own blood and treasure.

Hemingway ‘all war is a crime’ applies, however it seems a case of the least of a whole bucket of evils. The intention to hopscotch across Europe while undermining the US has been stated for a decade and acted upon. Now we have a democratic country defending itself against a regime that packs with portable crematoriums. The invaders are not going to suddenly turn into fluffy bunnies and degrading their military one tank at a time is the currently available solution.

 

[Zardnaar]

Complete this sentence.

Russian Flagship go.........

 

[nedjer]

Complete this sentence.

Russian Flagship go.........

 

[trappedslider]

Russia warns Finland, Sweden against joining NATO, raises nuclear threat

Russia vowed Thursday that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, Moscow would bolster its troop presence and deploy nuclear weapons around the Baltic region.

nypost.com

whelp

 

[MGibster]

The last time Russia was involved in a cold war against the west they lost because they couldn't afford it in the long run. The Russian Federation does not have the power of the Soviet Union and I don't see another cold war going their way this time. And sorry, Putin, we already know what you're willing to do against non-NATO countries. Threatening someone to prevent them from joining NATO just doesn't have any power.

 

[Imaculata]

Russia warns Finland, Sweden against joining NATO, raises nuclear threat

Russia vowed Thursday that if Finland and Sweden join NATO, Moscow would bolster its troop presence and deploy nuclear weapons around the Baltic region.

nypost.com

whelp

In that case, they're definitely joining NATO.

Way to go making their decision easier, Putin!

 

[Ulfgeir]

I think it is quite likely we will join. However, it does affect some things (like our ability to work towards banishment of nuclear weapons*, and to be able to do diplomatic forays. Not that we have been that successful in those), and the decision to joining NATO is something that should have a very broad political support. We already do lots of trainings with NATO so our military is compatible, and we will start increasing our military budget..

The problem is if we do join, it will take some time before we are full members, and in the meantime we are vulnerable to further Russian aggressions.

* Would have been interesting to know how the situation had been if we had continued with our nuclear weapons program that we had in the 60s. We definitively have the capability to make such weapons, but the politicians decided to scrap it.