So to all of you foreign policy experts who blame the invasion on Trump, Trump being Putin's bitch and all, why did Putin wait to invade with "toe to toe with Putin" Biden as POTUS ? You would think that he would have done it long ago when Trump was in office since Trump had his back, no ?
He might have waited, just to see if Donnie could damage NATO and piss off allies more.
Location: Perched on the precipice of the cauldron of truth
Posted:
Feb 25, 2022 - 11:35am
kurtster wrote:
So to all of you foreign policy experts who blame the invasion on Trump, Trump being Putin's bitch and all, why did Putin wait to invade with "toe to toe with Putin" Biden as POTUS ? You would think that he would have done it long ago when Trump was in office since Trump had his back, no ?
Why now? There are those who are insisting that this would not have happened if Trump were President. Of course, that âlogicâ is bulletproof because it cannot be disproven or proven. I read an interesting take earlier this week, before the start of the invasion. The gist: Trump during his 2016 campaign and at various times during his presidency called NATO obsolete and questioned its worth to the United States. That and his expressed disdain for allies, especially Germany, may have had Putin thinking that NATO was weakening and might even dissolve under Trumpâs watch.
Which is not to say that Trump is responsible for Putinâs decision to invade Ukraine. Nor is Biden. We do know that Putin was concerned, and long has been concerned, about what he sees as the encroachment of NATO upon countries previously within the sphere of Russian/Soviet influence. There appear to be many other factors as well, and we can only speculate upon the catalysts for his decision and his motivations. It is simplistic to say, for example, that the US withdrawal from Afghanistan displayed weakness that prompted Putin to take this action.
What we do know is that this is an outrageous act and this is a perilous time. Ukraine matters. That is the most important message that we Americans can and should convey, to each other and to the world.
Kharkiv is on fire, Russian terrorists shelled a children's hospital, a blood donation center, houses, factories, cars...
The civilians I knew were killed, the parents of colleagues were left homeless, some were injured in the blood transfusion center.
This is genocide, terrorism and a crime against humanity. Fights are underway! We will defend our city, truth and God are behind us! Thanks to everyone who supports us! Pray for Ukraine ð
I am in safe.
It's a discussion/argument for us here...but the hell of war is all too real for you.
So sorry for your loss and all the unnecessary violence being inflicted.
Kharkiv is on fire, Russian terrorists shelled a children's hospital, a blood donation center, houses, factories, cars...
The civilians I knew were killed, the parents of colleagues were left homeless, some were injured in the blood transfusion center.
This is genocide, terrorism and a crime against humanity. Fights are underway! We will defend our city, truth and God are behind us! Thanks to everyone who supports us! Pray for Ukraine ð
So to all of you foreign policy experts who blame the invasion on Trump, Trump being Putin's bitch and all, why did Putin wait to invade with "toe to toe with Putin" Biden as POTUS ? You would think that he would have done it long ago when Trump was in office since Trump had his back, no ?
All too often. And every time we look back on it and see that we could have stopped it earlier with more resolve. This isn't the first time and it won't be the lastâI'm hoping we can start drawing the lessons from this that we should have already learned.
As for the present...all I can do is make ready for the refugees. Again.
More important. When it comes to US foreign policy, transparency and accountability should always be avoided at all costs.
Historical lessons should always be avoided. Treaty of Versailles and WW II? Watz dat?
Thankfully the USA and NATO took advantage of Russia's weakness after the implosion the Soviet Union and pushed NATO membership into the Baltic states and other former Warsaw Pact member nations.
Personally, I believe the USA should avoid the "Man of Great Stature" approach to international relations and foreign policy but if the will of the American people is to accelerate US hegemonic decline maybe that points a bright Panglossian future.
let's stick to the tragedy unfolding here. There is a distinct feeling of unease that this is not going to stop with Ukraine and that the sanctions imposed so far are going to have the opposite effect to that intended, namely that he'll just laugh at the mamby-pamby soft westerners with their decadent lifestyles as he shows them what a real strong man can do. The man is unhinged. Living in an information bubble fed by the frightened sycophants around him, emboldened by the lack of any real resistance. None of this is good. And yes, haven't we been here before?
All too often. And every time we look back on it and see that we could have stopped it earlier with more resolve. This isn't the first time and it won't be the last—I'm hoping we can start drawing the lessons from this that we should have already learned.
As for the present...all I can do is make ready for the refugees. Again.
Snippet from the end of a report in the NYT, by Michael Schwirtz No commentary necessary.
c.
"Even as the artillery barrages intensified, not everyone was ready to hide. Walking with intention toward the source of the artillery booms on the outskirts of Kharkiv was Roman Balakelyev, dressed in camouflage, a double-barreled shotgun slung over his shoulder.
âI live here, this is my home. Iâm going to defend it,â said Mr. Balakelyev, who also pulled out a large knife he had strapped to his back as if to show it off. âI donât think the Russians understand me like I understand them.â
A short while later, Mr. Balakelyev reached the edge of the city, where the Ukrainian troops were huddled around the abandoned Russian troop transports. They watched as he passed. No one moved to stop him. One soldier uttered: âIntent on victory.â"
some of the separatist groups have neo-nazi backgrounds, and which groups are ok to post about on Facebook while others are not allowed to be discussed. Lots of narrative control going on
Russia will “partly limit” access to Facebook, Russia’s censorship agency has announced.
No different than what occurs if you post on many topics, such as ivermectin, you can get your Facebook suspended for 30 days. Some people have been de-platformed for hundreds of days, right in USA, Canada, Europe.
are you aware that you always pick the best examples to present a stunningly strong argument against your own propositions?
Russia will âpartly limitâ access to Facebook, Russiaâs censorship agency has announced.
No different than what occurs if you post on many topics, such as ivermectin, you can get your Facebook suspended for 30 days. Some people have been de-platformed for hundreds of days, right in USA, Canada, Europe.
Well, yes, but they are kind of useful, for you can rest assured that the arguments they tout are meant to divert away from the stuff that really upsets their paymasters. This whole fear of NATO thing and protecting the geographical borders is actually bullshit. The invading hordes are not on horseback anymore. They come via the internet and with rules-based agreements in their hands. It's also obvious that geopolitical manoeuvring is not Putin's main reason for the war, as he just opened his entire back door to the Chinese, who will be rubbing their hands in glee. No, Robert Reich is right at least on this one. What Putin is actually afraid of is the spread of liberal democracy. Look at how repressive the reaction was in Belarus. Now Ukraine. Putin knows his days are numbered and he feels like a cornered rat - and he's acting like one.
Wait, Robert Reich is right about something? Who knew? OK, his observations are pretty blindingly obvious....when they don't revert to his usual partisan hackery (his response to rising oil prices: tax oil companies. Yeah, that'll fix it! Wasn't he supposed to be an economist at some point?) but I guess it's useful for those in his bubble. There may yet be some positive consequences from this. Europe may finally take responsibility for its own defense. It may serve as a wake-up call for voters in Poland and Hungary, who have been electing nationalist autocrats recently. If we have the patience and commitment to bear the consequences of isolating Russia after this it may undermine Putin in Russia to the point his crumbling economy finally turns people against him. Don't hold your breath on that last point (Fidel Castro died of old age) but somewhere there is a lamppost with Putin's name on it. I hope it finds him soon.
let's stick to the tragedy unfolding here. There is a distinct feeling of unease that this is not going to stop with Ukraine and that the sanctions imposed so far are going to have the opposite effect to that intended, namely that he'll just laugh at the mamby-pamby soft westerners with their decadent lifestyles as he shows them what a real strong man can do. The man is unhinged. Living in an information bubble fed by the frightened sycophants around him, emboldened by the lack of any real resistance. None of this is good. And yes, haven't we been here before?
Charitable Foundation Voices of Children helps children affected by the war in eastern Ukraine. Thanks to you, we provide psychological and psychosocial support to children. It helps them overcome the consequences of armed conflict and develop.
Well, yes, but they are kind of useful, for you can rest assured that the arguments they tout are meant to divert away from the stuff that really upsets their paymasters.
This whole fear of NATO thing and protecting the geographical borders is actually bullshit. The invading hordes are not on horseback anymore. They come via the internet and with rules-based agreements in their hands. It's also obvious that geopolitical manoeuvring is not Putin's main reason for the war, as he just opened his entire back door to the Chinese, who will be rubbing their hands in glee.
No, Robert Reich is right at least on this one. What Putin is actually afraid of is the spread of liberal democracy. Look at how repressive the reaction was in Belarus. Now Ukraine. Putin knows his days are numbered and he feels like a cornered rat - and he's acting like one.
Wait, Robert Reich is right about something? Who knew?
OK, his observations are pretty blindingly obvious....when they don't revert to his usual partisan hackery (his response to rising oil prices: tax oil companies. Yeah, that'll fix it! Wasn't he supposed to be an economist at some point?) but I guess it's useful for those in his bubble.
There may yet be some positive consequences from this. Europe may finally take responsibility for its own defense. It may serve as a wake-up call for voters in Poland and Hungary, who have been electing nationalist autocrats recently. If we have the patience and commitment to bear the consequences of isolating Russia after this it may undermine Putin in Russia to the point his crumbling economy finally turns people against him.
Don't hold your breath on that last point (Fidel Castro died of old age) but somewhere there is a lamppost with Putin's name on it. I hope it finds him soon.
Sure, that seems to be the narrative...backwards thinking ideology - MEAGA! But the west is unwilling to do the one thing that might actually hurt Russia: stop buying their oil. Because why? Can't get our other "allies" like Saudi Arabia to pump more? Maybe work out a deal with Venezuela? Pump more domestic, or still need to push through the progressive narrative of fossil fuels are evil? Seems weak we can't make that type of sacrifice.
