Neither is the West. What I find interesting being over here is that whilst Portugal is staunch EU and NATO, its former colonies and areas of influence in Brazil and Africa aren't and those former colonies and areas of influence get more media coverage here in the newspapers and news than they do in the UK.
The USA and Europe really do not want the Russian status quo to collapse destabilising the country and seems to me have neither the will or desire to defeat it's military in Ukraine whatever the odd gung ho merrikan general and British politician might say in public
https://www.theguardian.com/world/l...08ff360bcb32e2#block-64bcf9058f08ff360bcb32e2
This author (of whom I know fuck all), references Mearsheimer, of whom I do know something. The article reiterates what one or two on here were saying from the start. A completely avoidable war, and another (destined to be more or less forgotten) tragedy.
Why Russia Is Going To Win
According to John Mearsheimer, who predicted the war in the first placeindica.medium.com
'While Ukrainian resolves is indubitable (their country is under attack) so is Russian resolve, which westerners willfully do not understand. People outraged about China building up its military in China refuse to understand how Russia feels about enemy troops on its border. Mearsheimer breaks this threat perception down into two parts. First is how threatened Russia felt by NATO fiddling with Ukraine before the war and how much more threatened it feels now. Now the West is talking about killing Putin, regime change, and dismembering Russia. This only strengthens Russian resolve, making Ukraine an existential fight for them as well.'
'What is highly dubious is American resolve. First off they have no skin in the game, and second their military has been losing wars and abandoning allies for decades. That’s their business model. The great American innovation in empire has been figuring out that there’s more money in losing wars. You can loot your own treasury, fuck over your allies, and do it all far from home (using the most fossil fuels of any single entity, so fucking over the planet also). It’s the greatest ‘bezzle’ in history, and Ukraine is just the latest mark.'
'Since resolve is roughly equal on the Russian and Ukrainian side and actually drained by the Americans, all that’s left is population and artillery. Here, as mentioned, Ukraine is fucked. Russia wins by sheer attrition, but it’s a terrible victory which merely moves their NATO problem a few years forward and few oblasts over. If you go by Western propaganda Putin started this war for fun, but if you follow the record, he actually did everything he could to avoid it. As Mearsheimer said in response to a question (and as anyone can look up)”
To people who say this violates the ‘rules-based order’, what is that exactly? Under the ‘rules-based order’ America ‘pre-emptively’ attacked Iraq, and Iraq is nowhere near America. Ukraine is right next to Russia and hostile troops were amassing there. The example America and NATO have set is to attack wherever you feel like based on completely made up threats. Russia more than anyone is following the rules based order because they actually were threatened by NATO and complained about it for decades.
Of course, ‘rules-based order’ just means rule by the latest incarnation of White Empire, doing whatever the fuck they want. The only rule being violated is any other country having a concept of national security, which makes America feel very insecure. And so they will keep poking at Russia, and China, and anyone who defies them, obliterating their own allies and potentially the whole planet on their way down.'
Seems incredible to me that the likes of Poland ,Czechia are free to take any such unilateral action in a situation where their own territory has not been encroached upon?
Excuse me? Russia started this shit and only a complete moron would suggest to Poland that a short bloke with weird hair invading his neighbours is going to be satisfied with just Ukarine. They occupied Poland for 50 years filled their forests with dead. Poland and the Baltics know they are next if vlad gets his way. there are 20000 polish volunteers already in Ukarine
Only a complete moron would repeat the canard that Hitler was short, when he was average height for the time (5'8"/9" apparently). And I think you'll find much of what's currently Poland was held by the russians for rather longer than 50 years.
I used to work in a school that was built as a Russian cavalry barracks in Kielce. The ceilings had to be high enough to allow a mounted officer with helmet to ride through with ease.
www.aa.com.tr
True. He won't be satisfied with just Ukraine no more than being satisfied with just Donbas and Crimea. His primary concern is the future security of Russia and geography is as important as geo-politics in that regard. I doubt Poland yet makes his list of sovereign states but I think the Baltics would mean more to Putin than Poland. The thing about this is it's one thing to be dissatisfied with your security situation and another to start a world war. However, I think it's important to be honest with ourselves and view the West the way Russians do. Putin no doubt had an inflated and misguided confidence in his military due to corruption and terrible management but so does NATO in itself. NATO looks weak because it allowed itself to dwindle in resources and leadership. We tend to see oursleves differently than how our adversaries see us.
Meant no more than that not myself being familiar with the provisions of the NATO treaty I suppose there must be articles within it designed to prevent any ludicrous tail wagging dog situation from arising.
the russians were pissed 24/7
Who exactly are 'We'?
Who exactly are "we"?
Us. The also-rans. The shitmunchers. The ones expected to do and believe as they're told. Etc etc. However, the post I replied to seemed to imply that this 'We' and the 'We' who take the decisions for us are as one, all sharing the same interests.
Do you see yourself differently from Russian invading forces?
I'm not Russian and haven't invaded anywhere. So yes.
Swap Ukranian for Russian and get the same answer. And then stop messing the thread up.
Your whole shtick is moral superiority, you laughable dope.
