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Why do people [maintain] that Russia is capable of even threatening the EU? Because its regime has verbally done just that, and has conducted sabotage and assa

Why do people [maintain] that Russia is capable of even threatening the EU? Because its regime has verbally done just that, and has conducted sabotage and assassinations on EU soil on multiple recent occasions. The fact that is attacking Ukraine in part as a response to its attempt to join the EU is also very reasonably interpreted as part of this intrinsically threatening stance.

ReptileMan 2y ago
Putin's mouth is writing checks that his ass cannot cash. They are bogged down for 3 years in the only country in Europe less developed than them. He may have the desire, but he lacks the capacity to threaten Europe.
- aguaviva 2y ago
  It doesn't matter that the threats have the additional qualifier of being mostly exaggerated. They're still plainly threats, by every accepted definition of the term. And he absolutely does have the capacity to use his nukes. It'd be stupid and plainly irrational for him to do so. One can safely say it's objectively unlikely that he will. But that in no way means he doesn't have the capacity.
  - ReptileMan 2y ago
    Of course they are threats, but only stupid person would take them seriously. And nuclear war will be end of the world so no need to worry about it - the people pretend to be scared by conventional war. By this logic Erdogan wants to restore the Ottoman empire and right now is busy invading Syria - is he a threat too?
    - aguaviva 2y ago
      Of course they are threats, but ... Meaning: "Of course he is threatening, but ..." after you just said "He isn't capable of even threatening". Can't you just acknowledge that it wasn't the best choice of language you used up front?
      - ReptileMan 2y ago
        No. Threat as a verbal construct and threat as a danger are different things. Putin can give verbal threats, but doesn't have the infrastructure to make them threatening. A pomeranian barking when angry is not threatening but funny. So is Putin
        aguaviva 2y ago
        Threat as a verbal construct and threat as a danger are different things. This is just weird, verbal gymnastics. I don't lose any sleep over Putin either. But there's nothing in the least funny about him, or what he says.

ReptileMan 2y ago

Putin's mouth is writing checks that his ass cannot cash. They are bogged down for 3 years in the only country in Europe less developed than them. He may have the desire, but he lacks the capacity to threaten Europe.

aguaviva 2y ago
It doesn't matter that the threats have the additional qualifier of being mostly exaggerated. They're still plainly threats, by every accepted definition of the term. And he absolutely does have the capacity to use his nukes. It'd be stupid and plainly irrational for him to do so. One can safely say it's objectively unlikely that he will. But that in no way means he doesn't have the capacity.
- ReptileMan 2y ago
  Of course they are threats, but only stupid person would take them seriously. And nuclear war will be end of the world so no need to worry about it - the people pretend to be scared by conventional war. By this logic Erdogan wants to restore the Ottoman empire and right now is busy invading Syria - is he a threat too?
  - aguaviva 2y ago
    Of course they are threats, but ... Meaning: "Of course he is threatening, but ..." after you just said "He isn't capable of even threatening". Can't you just acknowledge that it wasn't the best choice of language you used up front?
    - ReptileMan 2y ago
      No. Threat as a verbal construct and threat as a danger are different things. Putin can give verbal threats, but doesn't have the infrastructure to make them threatening. A pomeranian barking when angry is not threatening but funny. So is Putin
      - aguaviva 2y ago
        Threat as a verbal construct and threat as a danger are different things. This is just weird, verbal gymnastics. I don't lose any sleep over Putin either. But there's nothing in the least funny about him, or what he says.