>Are there really people on HN that think Russia spent all that time, money, and effort to amass their troops on the border just as a ruse, Not as a ruse, but

>Are there really people on HN that think Russia spent all that time, money, and effort to amass their troops on the border just as a ruse, Not as a ruse, but as a show of force to bolster his negotiation position. Putin would have to be insane to actually invade. It would be the end of his regime. US intelligence agencies have a history of making things up, yes. As for "what is going on in the comments", I have to ask the same question. The credulity, paranoia, and lack of perspective is somewhat astonishing to me. There are people who literally think that eastern Ukraine is absolutely vital to American interests.