Originally Posted by
mahogany bob
WHAT TO DO ??
With the war now in it’s 3rd month and in danger of escalating to armageddon it is time for the WEST to face the FACTS - no matter how unpleasant they are
- There is no way that Ukraine can WIN the war - prolonged western help will only prolong the agony.
- The chance of PUTIN being overthrown from within is next to NIL His popularity has increased since the war started.
- ECONOMIC sanctions will NOT work.
- NATO is seen as the enemy - Russians do not want more American missiles on their borders.Bellicose threats of expansion only throws petrol on the flames!
- There is NO danger of Russia attacking a strong NATO country. Why would they?
1. Ukraine has beaten Russia at every turn so far, and has a better long-term outlook than Russia has. The tech and financial sanctions have yet to fully impact Russia, and that will impact their capacity to prosecute a war. I wouldn't be writing the requiem as yet, it may be for the wrong party.
2. Putin oversees a controlled media and polls have the same value as a Putin promise. Probably good for feeding dandilions. Has Putin told the truth to his citizens? If he had, and they were still cheering, then maybe your comment would hold water, but there is no credible uncompromised source that suggests Putin is popular. He is utterly linked to Ukraine, so a defeat or an extended conflict causing damage on the Russian economy is owned by him, and his minions will have a fair amount of distance to set between themselves and the coming anger of the population.
3. Sanctions are a part solution, and they are causing problems to Russia.
4. So Russia moving borders to NATO is different from NATO moving a border to Russia, how?
5. Nor is there a risk of a NATO country attacking Russia. Russia is well equipped to continue living the dream of own goals that have been part of Russian heritage since Olaf the Hairy was looking wistfully at the Varangian maidens.... back in 862.
Russia doesn't need help from others in making a mess of things, they are eminently capable of messing up their own playpen in solitude. Lots of plots for Checkov and Tolstoy, the trouble usually is that every Russian story starts horribly, gets progressively worse, and the ending makes you wistful for the happier character of Dante Alighieri, at least Dante kept warm in winter.