mtutiger

Just to be clear, while I think this situation is a lot different than Georgia and Crimea in terms of scope and stakes, which may impact the severity of sanctions that are ultimately levied or the resolve of US/EU/NATO members, I understand people's skepticism based on that history. Its put up or shut up time for the west. What I dont really see is a path to a Russian-puppet government in Ukraine that doesn't inflict a large amount of damage in terms of blood and finances for Russia. It's one thing to claim South Ossetia, another to claim the 36th largest country in the world, especially where most of the country hates you. Iraq serves as a great example of that IMO.

The only way the comparison to Iraq seems valid would be with respect to the country who seems to want to subjugate a country of 43 million where most of the residents seem to disapprove of them

May be the first time I've ever seen Kasparov remotely satisfied with a sanctions regime...

Yeah, I think we may be just a tad dismissive of Ukraine's willingness to fight this out. Particularly given that, if anything, views of Russia have declined over the past eight years. Russia has the resources to win out, of course... but I dont know, I dont see a country where close to 70% of the population harboring negative attitudes toward Russia just accepting subjugation

There you go... he'd have just given Putin Ukraine on a silver platter...

Sometimes you don't get ideal options...

I don't see the US declaring war. But aside from just letting Putin do whatever the hell he wants, I don't see many other alternatives to severe sanctions. Particularly given that the behavior is habitual and recidivist at this point. And particularly when he's openly musing about reconstituting the Russia of old.

I'm prepared to be underwhelmed, but this is spot on.

Ahh, we have to wait for the lunatic to decide what he wants to do. Awesome

Within Russia itself, I don't know. But it doesn't surprise me coming from Putin... Steven Lee Meyers (of the NYT) wrote a book about him a few years back that really emphasized that Tsarism was more his north star than the Soviet years

The reactions from the right about how Trump would handle this are something else... The guy literally blackmailed Ukraine with weapons they need for defense. That tells me everything I need to know about how Trump would handle this.

That's the one. I'd call her a "useful idiot", but I'm not sure "useful" fits the bill

Another one who must be on the take...

We should probably rename the Vlad thread "Cleanup on Aisle Lunatic 2: Electric Boogaloo"

After all of this, It really was never about NATO membership... he's just mad that the USSR collapsed and many of the Republics went their own separate way. What a small, small man.

In his address now, Putin doesnt sound like a guy who feels that *any* former Republics are legitimate, let alone Ukraine. If I'm the Baltics, do I really believe that NATO membership means I'm untouchable to this unhinged man?

Good for her....

Prince Frozen Dinner has thoughts on entitlement...

I wonder if we'll get the same amount of hours and A1 above-the-fold stories for this records scandal as we did for the last one 🤔

But (yeah) Her (yeah) Emails (yeah) (Yeah, yeah)

Oh my... they filmed the video two days ago?

They have a sizable part of the population that is pro-Russian, but it is smaller than it has ever been numbers-wise (at least based on a couple of polls recently showing feelings toward the west / interest in NATO membership at an all time high). Which makes sense when you consider how Russia's actions in the east have damaged the economy... Either way, I don't think anyone would dispute that we aren't going to war in Ukraine, or that Ukraine will not be extended NATO membership, but I see absolutely zero problem arming them and doing what we can to help fight off subjugation to the best of their abilities.

Our protests were relatively peaceful, but IIRC, there was one incident when protestors unlawfully blocked public ROW (a bridge spanning the Trinity River) and they were arrested pretty quickly. They weren't given a week like the ones in Windsor.

Sounds about right to me. I guess I don't understand the complaint on this one. Canada is a sovereign nation and is free to exercise whatever laws it has on the books to disperse unlawful protests. Just as many police departments did during the George Floyd protests. And just as it isnt fair to associate all of those who are supportive of lifting COVID restrictions with the means and methods used at these border protests or every Trump voter with January 6th, not everyone who supported the message of the George Floyd protests advocated violence or looting.