1984Echoes

This is what I was really hoping for.... Surely. Work up the numbers: Roughly 200,000 Russian soldiers, split about 10 different ways, against 40 million passionate anti-Russian armed Ukrainian Patriots. I'm not certain how many are actually armed. But Ukraine is not just going to roll over.

Europe still gets I think 40% of their natural gas/ energy from Russia. They use the SWIFT interbank communication codes to pay Russia for their gas. Dropping Russia from SWIFT would be a "nuclear option" against Russia. It would hammer them. But it would also cause major problems in the EU in getting/ paying for their natural Russian gas. That is the crux of the SWIFT problem. The EU cannot let go of their Russian nipple. I'm wondering if he's had much sleep the past two weeks. Making a not-very-good speaker even more not very good.

Those are invalid examples. The United States was a friend or ally to all countries in those years. We weren't a part of any Allied or Axis agreements at the time. We were not beholden to supporting one ally over another in any Security Treaty. We were free to choose our destiny. And we did. Even if it came belatedly. You do NOT have any examples of the U.S. refusing to support or come to the aide of an ally because there are none.

Archie Bunker ALWAYS thought that he was the grownup...

"We choose by action or inaction which world we want to live in."

When did this happen?

Blockade the Bosphorus Straits from all Russian ships. That hits them economically, and restricts their movement militarily. There are several Russian warships hiding in the Mediterranean, waiting to rush in and support the invasion on Ukraine's southern coast. Lock them out of the Black Sea with a naval blockade. It's a little more complicated than that. Turkey committed a genocide against the Armenians. It's difficult to know which side to come down on when considering the Armenian nation.

The United States was attacked by terrorists on 9-11 whose leadership had sanctuary in Afghanistan, who in return refused to hand them over (hence the sanctuary...). The United States convened a NATO Article 5 meeting and multiple (I don't remember if it was every NATO nation, it might have been...) NATO countries supported military operations against Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban. Which meant militarily taking over Afghanistan. If Estonia is attacked, the favor will be returned. I know Russia isn't Afghanistan, but the NATO compact will work the same. Not a full invasion of Russia; but troops on NATO soil attacking Russian troops on NATO soil. Until they are no longer there.

That's what I meant in my second sentence. Supporting NATO militarily, if it comes to it, will be approved by Congress. We won't be the only nation that declares war on Russia if they step onto NATO soil. Poland, Germany, France, Italy, the UK will all race to be the first to declare war against Russia if they step onto NATO territory. We won't be able to beat them, but we will join them. Putin will back down.

We are under obligation by NATO agreements. The Republican boot-lickers will be silent after this scale of invasion of Ukraine by Russia. So... yes.

Yes. I think he will. Ukraine is a big enough land prize for him. He'll still attack other democracies and NATO by asymmetric means but not militarily.

Good job Zadina. Take the gimmes and break through...

If Russia wants to destroy all Ukrainian hopes/ destroy the nation entire... He'll invade the western areas of Ukraine from Byelorussia. That cuts off their ONLY escape route, and their only resupply route. No guerilla warfare. He will have the entire country encircled and force their capitulation. And then begin his campaign of outright murder.

PS: The UK is freezing foreign assets of some Russian oligarchs... That's the UK's biggest hammer, because al the Russians put alls their money into UK real estate, laundering, banks, etc... What the UK should do: Freeze ALL Russian assets of EVERY Duma member (they authorized Putin to invade Ukraine), EVERY Russian oligarch, EVERY Russian mafia member (that they can ascertain, or basically, every asset in valuation higher than what a regular family could afford. Which would pretty much be everything. They can sort it out later. But if they want to get Russia's attention: that would be it.

The Wings need whole lots more of speed, and physicality. Are we getting that next year with Edvinsson and Berggren? Plus others?

Full on boot-licking and lying for Putin. Tucker Carlson is a traitor to Democracy. Let me rephrase this in 84 LIVES!!! speak: Tucker Carlson is a Benedict Arnold MF'ing SCUMBAG TRAITOR to Democracy. He can go fuck himself.

To Buddha's point (he may have missed this): The U.S. has already supplied US weaponry to Ukraine. Anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles. And yes, it came from 3rd parties in Poland, the Baltics, and Romania... but it wasn't hidden. In fact it was broadcast loudly "The US is supplying Ukraine with $200 million in ...". Not exactly under the table.

And adopt their health care system. That's not half bad. We'd add 12 states (or more) and they'd all vote Dem.

Errr, this.

Don't be influenced by +/-. I think teams look at Detroit as still not there yet and therefore +/- can be misleading. Not enough offense equals t omuch defensive pressure/ stress which is not necessarily the fault of the defense. And, if you can visually see that he isn't as good in the defensive zone as he should be (scouting matches the +/-), you can still limit his minutes and protect him by using him primarily on power plays, or with a defense first partner, etc... If a team is looking for an offensive defenseman and know they have to protect him somewhat... That's Leddy. And that's still worth a 3rd or so to some teams... IMO.

And this is the EU's one big hammer against Russia. Moreso than any other tool they have. More than anything, drop their need for Russian gas in a huge way and... As a petrostate, Russia gets hammered and doesn't really have too many other economic fallback options.

Yeah... I don't think they're considering the true impact of yanking Russia out of SWIFT, denying all forms of American technology to Russia... these are not non-impactful events. Russian economy will get absolutely hammered, that HAS to change the balance scale in Putin's thinking somewhat, especially if there is concerted pressure from the Russian oligarchs. I don't agree with Drezner's general statement.

I'm with that too. But they have territorial integrity issues, since 2014 (I'm not going to count Crimea, just Donbas... was that 2015 not 2014?); and they still have corruption issues that are unacceptable to EU and NATO standards. Those are the deal-breakers that prevent Ukraine membership. I mean, maybe pissing off Putin is also an issue that prevents that from happening... it's just never been uttered out loud as that though...

Yeah... Someone seems confused...

The United States of HAMMER: https://news.yahoo.com/exclusive-punishing-putin-biden-could-171437620.html