Europe at War

[drogulus]

Technically speaking, between Slovakia and Romania there is Hungary as well, also a NATO member but given Orban's openly pro-Russian, pro-Putin stance I'm not sure whether they are an asset or a liability. According to a former Romanian Foreign Affairs minister who is well versed and well informed in all matters diplomatic, Hungary is no more privy to top secret NATO information sharing, which would only make sense in the context.

     Yes, that was a non-oops.

     
     

[Madiel]

It's not NATO that turned Ukraine into a killing field --- it's Russia.

No no, Andrei. You see, when an abusive husband bashes his wife, it's her fault because she dared to leave the house and have outside interests or friends.

[Todd]

It's not NATO that turned Ukraine into a killing field --- it's Russia.

This is a contrafactual assertion if ever there was one.  The US and NATO allies have poured weapons into Ukraine, some of which did not end up on the black market, and those weapons have directly led to prolonging the war.  This is no secret.  As Lloyd Austin has publicly stated, the US will use this war to weaken Russia.  It's policy. 

That's in addition to the US pushing for the reckless and aggressive expansion of NATO, establishing the conditions that led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

[Madiel]

This is a contrafactual assertion if ever there was one.  The US and NATO allies have poured weapons into Ukraine, some of which did not end up on the black market, and those weapons have directly led to prolonging the war.  This is no secret.  As Lloyd Austin has publicly stated, the US will use this war to weaken Russia.  It's policy. 

That's in addition to the US pushing for the reckless and aggressive expansion of NATO, establishing the conditions that led to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I love it when you ignore my posts.

[SimonNZ]

Keep fighting.  No negotiations.

But you don't want negotiation. You want capitulation.

[JBS]

I love it when you ignore my posts.

He's not ignoring your posts.
He's ignoring reality.

[Todd]

He's ignoring reality.

Incorrect. 

[drogulus]

    Fiona Hill is a world class Putinologist and knows things.

   

     The US provided minimal help to Ukraine between 2014 and February 2022. Peacemongery reigned supreme under Obama and TrumPutinism, an advanced form of peacemongery, under the Bad Orange Entity.

     In order to understand "no more war" during war start here. It's the invadee that's to be blamed, not the invader. Ukraine shouldn't wear short skirts or it will tempt the rapist.

     Putin decided not to join the European system, which is one thing and not in itself a crime. But then he attacks Europe and that's as crimey as it gets. NATO didn't make him do it. We tried to peacemonger him into seeing reason, and that didn't work because Putin wants the empire of his youth back, or as much of it as he can grab.
 

[Madiel]

He's not ignoring your posts.
He's ignoring reality.

I'm sure he can manage both as he continues to blame the wife's friends for helping her deal with her abusive ex.

[Herman]

NATO's irrelevant, really.  Putin's a psychopath megalomaniac who dreams of restoring the USSR - the territories of that failed state.

It's not such a great idea to assume one's opponent is insane.
It makes more sense to assume Putin is a rationally operating man, with an entirely different moral view. Yes, the war's a mess, with way too many casualties, but that's not because he's an idiot; he just doesn't care about casualties. There's quite a Russian tradition there.
The 'cultural' issues he keeps talking about are possibly just window dressing. His family values platform (antigay etc) was just to get the orthodox church on his side after the protests against his illegal third term as Prez.
What Pute is really about is just amassing as much wealth for himself and his cronies as is possible. The eastern part of Ukraine is very rich in petro-stuff and precious metals. He wants that. He's probably the richest man on earth, much richer than Musk or Bezos, we just don't know, because it's all hidden away.

[Florestan]

Incorrect.

This word should be inscribed on your tombstone. 

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

[Florestan]

he just doesn't care about casualties. There's quite a Russian tradition there.

Correct.

[Florestan]

I'm sure he can manage both as he continues to blame the wife's friends for helping her deal with her abusive ex.

Mind-boggling, really.

[Christo]

What Pute is really about is just amassing as much wealth for himself and his cronies as is possible. The eastern part of Ukraine is very rich in petro-stuff and precious metals. He wants that. He's probably the richest man on earth, much richer than Musk or Bezos, we just don't know, because it's all hidden away.

I'm inclined to believe that his rhetoric - about Ukraine as betraying the Russian tradition by opting for the West - is  his genuine belief, and a justification of the war. Even a Puting needs a justification.

[Todd]

Ukraine war shows Europe too reliant on U.S., Finland PM says

The Finnish Prime Minister can dance and she's sharp as a tack.  European security dependence is by design, both by Americans and feckless European politicians.  Perhaps Ms Marin can be in the vanguard of European leaders who do more than talk about the problem. 

[Todd]

Another example of a rock solid op-ed from a trusted name in journalism, here the Graun:

Russia's vicious tactics in Ukraine serve only to further expose its weakness; Moscow had hoped to easily capture Ukraine – having totally failed, it has resorted to simply destroying it

I'm not sure the word "simply" applies, but it could be a usage difference.  At least the Graun is on the leading edge of analysis regarding this war.

[Scion7]

It's not such a great idea to assume one's opponent is insane.

I didn't.
I said he was a psychopath and a megalomaniac - that make him EVIL, not "insane."  He was a mass-murderer before he was ever the head of the gov't.

[Todd]

I didn't.
I said he was a psychopath and a megalomaniac - that make him EVIL, not "insane."  He was a mass-murderer before he was ever the head of the gov't.

Claims of psychopathy, megalomania, and/or other psychological disorders are run of the mill propaganda.  It is precisely like comparing <insert evildoer du jour here> to Hitler or invoking WWII in any way. 

The best propaganda is the type that people not in power propagate on their own.

[Herman]

I didn't.
I said he was a psychopath and a megalomaniac - that make him EVIL, not "insane."

Really? In that case we read those terms differently. In my dix "psychopath" and "insane" are virtually synonymous.

[BasilValentine]

What Pute is really about is just amassing as much wealth for himself and his cronies as is possible. The eastern part of Ukraine is very rich in petro-stuff and precious metals. He wants that. He's probably the richest man on earth, much richer than Musk or Bezos, we just don't know, because it's all hidden away.

This I suspect is largely true. But I think there's a little bit of vanity as well; that he thinks about how he'll be seen to stack up against the strong Russian czars and dictators of the past.

Claims of psychopathy, megalomania, and/or other psychological disorders are run of the mill propaganda.  It is precisely like comparing <insert evildoer du jour here> to Hitler or invoking WWII in any way. 

The best propaganda is the type that people not in power propagate on their own.

So do you believe in the existence of sociopaths at all?  Or do you just doubt the ability of other humans to recognize them when they see one?  Obviously you can't, but many of us are competent judges of human character.