4 ms·
His answer to "why is the war happening" is "Putin wanted it to." I won't claim to have greater insight but can't help but think that if this is the best we can
by bllguo 5y ago
His answer to "why is the war happening" is "Putin wanted it to." I won't claim to have greater insight but can't help but think that if this is the best we can do to explain Putin's actions, it's no wonder things have devolved this far.
The analysis of how the war could have been avoided also seems lacking, in the sense that sure, there was probably nothing that could realistically have been done in the last few months. But the post itself says: "the conditions which would have resulted in a Russian invasion of Ukraine were likely decided on weeks or months ago." What could have been done differently in the last few years, even decades? I find the implied answer of "nothing" suspect.
- jacquesm 5y agoWelcome to dictatorship 101. This is exactly how it goes in countries like that, there may be some showpiece meeting or even legislation but in practice the ruler determines what happens next.
- bllguo 5y agoDictators are people, they have goals and motivations and fears like anyone else. Imo saying it was an unavoidable act of Putin's madness is a cop-out. There's nothing for international relations to learn from this situation? I sure hope that's not the case, Putin won't be the last dictator with military power in human history.
- jacquesm 5y agoUnfortunately, dictators trend to paranoid and have a habit of murdering any remotely plausible opposition. And they have a coterie of yes men/enablers around them. If not for that no dictator would ever live longer then 30 minutes.