Originally Posted by
Easy Street
After Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Georgia, none of which are particularly 'useful', I rather think that the burden is on you (and those who think like you) to explain why Russia wouldn't do the same to the Baltic states if they weren't in NATO or if the alliance had ceased to exist.
Crimea is Russian, always has been, the 1954 present to Ukraine didn't change a thing. The people there sought to exit Ukaine as they wished no part of it in 1990's but were threatened with war. They wished to have the right to self determine their future but seemingly the West doesn't like that unless it is in their interests to do so. In 2014 after the US funded Maiden sq push they sought to determine their own future but it didn't suit the west. Democracy is about allowing people decide unless you don't like the answer. The fact there is no campaign in Crimea to rejoin Ukraine tells you how the people are about their decision. Vicky Nuland is back in Biden administration so fully expect war to restart.
Eastern Ukraine residents saw what was happening in Kiev, it was a nationalist anti Russian push of the Govt. Taking over of Govt buildings and violence was ok in Kiev. The residents in Eastern Ukraine did the same thing, Kiev didn't like what they saw and used military forces against the people, Ukrainian Govt attacked its own population. Not unsurprisingly the people there saw who was doing it and refused to allow the neo nazis get on with it. It is not unsurprising that Stepan Bandera is worshipped in Western Ukraine, he was a Hitler loving Nazi collaborator who now Kiev happy to have statues erected to. It was not unsurprising that Russia supported people who are ethnically Russian.
In relation to Ukraine the oft claimed population of 43 Million, a pure work of fiction, Poland has between 3 and 4 million since 2014 as people en bloc left, Poland has been the largest issuer of residency permits in EU27 in 2019, 80% of those issued were by Poland to Ukrainians. Germany was the second destination in EU. Many have left for Russia. If supposedly the new regime was all sweetness and light why have milllions left ? Speaking to some Ukrainins in London with teenage sons, they moved because the right wings gangs knocking on doors informing you that your son is joining Svoboda or other neo nazi groups was not what they wanted. This is what the Wehemacht did. Ukraine population likely 33 million if that. Unfortunately my enemies enemy who worships nazis thugs and allows them in Govt shouldn't be my friend.
In relation to Georgia the areas are populated by Ethnic Russians, Georgia decided it want to go to war and got shocked at the response. The people there have never wished to be part of Georgia. Politicians egged on by external forces demand that X is their whole terrritory even though they hold no saw in anything there. Let the people decide.
Latvia enacting laws against anyone who has Russian ethnic origins, refusing citizenship and throw people out of jobs because of their heritage will ultimately only have one result. Instead of building a nation they are destroying it. Cancelling any right to be taught in your families language you have had for generations and discimination.
The assumption is that it is far away and an enemy so its ok, look closer to home. If Scotland obtains its independence and then starts discrimination against English people because of their origins including allowing attacks on them would anybody expect London to stay silent.
Also Northern Ireland when likely Irish unity occurs, would it be acceptable for Dublin to destroy any British cultural references in NI, build statues for PIRA everywhere and claim it doesn't matter you are Etnically British and have lived here for 200 years, you have no rights. I would also fully expect London to be involved including militarily were it to occur.
The idea that somehow Russia wants to invade the Uk is laughable, bearing in mind it is ungovernable in many places to the elected Govt, then how exactly would an invading power control it and what exactly has the UK that Russia would want ? Its women ......beer...... work culture.
I fully see Russia acting to support Ethnic Russian populations that are in danger of persecution or death, just like I fully expect Israel to support any Jewish population and other countrys likewise.
Pretending because one country does it is wrong while another doing it is ok, even when they laud and celebrate Nazis, is a bit like the West supplying Al Qaeda with arms and forgetting 9/11 didn't happen