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Respecting borders has been an "unimpeachable norm" for how long, though? Since 1945, at most. That's not even 80 years - just long enough for us to forget why

Respecting borders has been an "unimpeachable norm" for how long, though? Since 1945, at most. That's not even 80 years - just long enough for us to forget why we made it verboten in the first place. I fear that Crimea and the Golan Heights will turn out to be the first drops in a devastating torrent.

raiflip 7y ago
True, it has not been very long. I can see nibbles starting to happen, but I highly doubt countries will start whole-sale take overs like during colonization. The US has shown over the last 70 years willingness to go to war to roll back conquests (like the iraq war in 1991). Even if China or Russia wanted to, the threat of nuclear war would contain all parties, like it did in the cold war.
dogma1138 7y ago
Cyprus has been occupied by Turkey a NATO member for how long now and you are worried about the Golan Heights? As far as Crimea goes the world is much better off with it than the alternative of forcing Russia’s hand. No one that can read a map ever thought Russia would give up their only warm water port, it’s also the reason why they went to Syria it’s their only port with access to the med that doesn’t have a NATO toll booth controlling it. Russia is a land locked country with all of its strategic assets and everything it cares about within strike distance of NATO FOBs. The US and NATO isn’t stupid they won’t be bogged down fighting over the rubbles of Stalingrad and they are much better logistically equipped to fight in winter than Napoleon. If a conventional conflict breaks out NATO tanks would find themselves on the outskirts of Moscow well before Russia can reach Warsaw yet alone Berlin. The buffer zone of the former Baltic and Soviet states has eroded and as much as the Baltics fear Russia if I was a Russian general I would be binge drinking and for a good reason just to stop my balls from shivering. Russia has no strategic depth, it’s land locked and thanks to improvements in air and missile defense also air and even space locked. Their geographical actions are about as predictable as playing risk with a 3 year old but just like that game the biggest risk is you have no idea if and when they’ll throw a tantrum and smash the board.

raiflip 7y ago

True, it has not been very long. I can see nibbles starting to happen, but I highly doubt countries will start whole-sale take overs like during colonization. The US has shown over the last 70 years willingness to go to war to roll back conquests (like the iraq war in 1991). Even if China or Russia wanted to, the threat of nuclear war would contain all parties, like it did in the cold war.

dogma1138 7y ago

Cyprus has been occupied by Turkey a NATO member for how long now and you are worried about the Golan Heights? As far as Crimea goes the world is much better off with it than the alternative of forcing Russia’s hand. No one that can read a map ever thought Russia would give up their only warm water port, it’s also the reason why they went to Syria it’s their only port with access to the med that doesn’t have a NATO toll booth controlling it. Russia is a land locked country with all of its strategic assets and everything it cares about within strike distance of NATO FOBs. The US and NATO isn’t stupid they won’t be bogged down fighting over the rubbles of Stalingrad and they are much better logistically equipped to fight in winter than Napoleon. If a conventional conflict breaks out NATO tanks would find themselves on the outskirts of Moscow well before Russia can reach Warsaw yet alone Berlin. The buffer zone of the former Baltic and Soviet states has eroded and as much as the Baltics fear Russia if I was a Russian general I would be binge drinking and for a good reason just to stop my balls from shivering. Russia has no strategic depth, it’s land locked and thanks to improvements in air and missile defense also air and even space locked. Their geographical actions are about as predictable as playing risk with a 3 year old but just like that game the biggest risk is you have no idea if and when they’ll throw a tantrum and smash the board.