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> If we raise the cost of victory in Ukraine to the point where that cost is higher than the anticipated benefit of occupying the next state, it is possible to
by hbrn 4y ago
> If we raise the cost of victory in Ukraine to the point where that cost is higher than the anticipated benefit of occupying the next state, it is possible to prevent any further expansion
Which costs are you talking about? Unlike the west, Russia clearly doesn't measure those costs in dollars or human lives.
- hackinthebochs 4y agoThis is the kind of self-serving narrative I'm talking about. Of course he values cost in dollars and human lives, at least in part. But he's certainly willing to sacrifice more dollars and lives to achieve his objective in Ukraine than is conceivable from our western sensibilities. Aside from dollars and lives, there is economic stability, current and future security, political stability at home, and so on.
- hbrn 4y ago> there is economic stability, current and future security, political stability at home, and so on. Did any of those improve after 2014 invasion? Did any of those improve after 2022 invasion? Again, you're trying to present him as this rational actor that shares western values. He does not. Obviously they are not completely irrelevant. But they are nice to have. Not nice enough to convince him to change course.
- hackinthebochs 4y ago>Again, you're trying to present him as this rational actor that shares western values. I'm literally doing the opposite (re: western values). What I'm saying is not to assume he's an inhuman creature whose behavior is wholly unintelligible to us.