3 ms·

The problem with your simplistic analogy is that we as a society can afford to treat rapists harshly without having to worry that if we push the rapist too far,

The problem with your simplistic analogy is that we as a society can afford to treat rapists harshly without having to worry that if we push the rapist too far, nuclear fireballs might suddenly appear over thousands of our city centers. And what are we Americans getting in exchange for the risk of nuclear war's being much higher than it would otherwise be? We haven't been able to stop Moscow from continuing to take Ukrainian territory.

ceejayoz 2y ago
Society also can’t afford to treat expansionist aggression with a “tut tut, have Czechoslovakia as a treat” forever.
- hollerith 2y ago
  Czechoslovakia in 1938 is not the only relevant historical analog. Another analog might be Austria in 1945, which took great pains to placate the Soviets, a strategy that continued all throughout the Cold War, so for example Austria never joined NATO. And I think they banned political parties that made anti-Communism part of their platform. Placating turned out very well for Austrians because the Soviets removed its troops from Austrian territory in 1945 or 1946 (in exchange for the Western allies's removing its troops) and never attacked Austria. Finland also placated the Soviets during the same four decades, not joining NATO till last year, and again, it turned out well for the average Finn. So on the international level, it is not true that the smart move is always to resist or confront an aggressor. But more importantly: while deciding to confront Moscow rather than placate it might be a rational move for Kiev, that does not automatically mean that it is in the US's interests to help Kiev confront Moscow. The idea that the US should act as some sort of world police or even police among the European nations is foolish IMHO, which is what a simplistic analogy with how a government treats rapists invites us to think.

ceejayoz 2y ago

Society also can’t afford to treat expansionist aggression with a “tut tut, have Czechoslovakia as a treat” forever.

hollerith 2y ago
Czechoslovakia in 1938 is not the only relevant historical analog. Another analog might be Austria in 1945, which took great pains to placate the Soviets, a strategy that continued all throughout the Cold War, so for example Austria never joined NATO. And I think they banned political parties that made anti-Communism part of their platform. Placating turned out very well for Austrians because the Soviets removed its troops from Austrian territory in 1945 or 1946 (in exchange for the Western allies's removing its troops) and never attacked Austria. Finland also placated the Soviets during the same four decades, not joining NATO till last year, and again, it turned out well for the average Finn. So on the international level, it is not true that the smart move is always to resist or confront an aggressor. But more importantly: while deciding to confront Moscow rather than placate it might be a rational move for Kiev, that does not automatically mean that it is in the US's interests to help Kiev confront Moscow. The idea that the US should act as some sort of world police or even police among the European nations is foolish IMHO, which is what a simplistic analogy with how a government treats rapists invites us to think.