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We've been in one war or another for most of my adult life. We are in a perilous position right now in Europe, very close to a major escalation of the Ukraine
by specproc 15d ago
We've been in one war or another for most of my adult life.
We are in a perilous position right now in Europe, very close to a major escalation of the Ukraine conflict. This would entail direct conflict between nuclear-armed powers.
I find it deeply troubling that no mainstream party in most European countries seems to think this is a bad idea.
- sgt101 15d agoI think all of them do, but the alternative is to let the Russians do what they want and that ends worse for all of us.
- specproc 15d agoYeah, that's precisely the attitude.
- notaigenerated 14d agoLetting russians take the Crimea without any consequences in 2014 is what led the world to all of this. I dare to say, ALL of it, not just the war in Ukraine. Letting them do even more horrible lawlessness will only lead to worse outcomes.
- notaigenerated 14d agoWhat is a bad idea? Defend yourself against an unprovoked military aggression?
- specproc 14d agoHot war in Europe. We're doing incursions well into Russia. Attempts have been made on the life of Putin and Zelensky, a drone was dangerously close to a bunch of very senior Europeans the other day. It's dangerously out of control. We should be seeking de-escalation for our own sakes. The last two major European wars destroyed empires. We're playing with fire here. I do not want to live through, or die in WW3. I'm worried it's already started.
- bmgoau 14d agoEurope, Ukraine and the west do want to de-escalate and end the war that Russia started, it's Putin who has repeatedly said to negotiators directly and on TV he wants to continue escalating and believes it's still possible to take over Ukraine and parts of eastern Europe. It's hard for one side to de-escalate when the other side is an avowed irredentist attempting to rebuild the Russian Empire before they die.
- specproc 14d agoI've not heard a plausible scenario for how this ends. We've had this stagnant wound festering in the middle of Europe for a decade. No one is winning. No one can win, except those who are benefiting from it.
- bmgoau 14d agoTo be honest, while Putin is obsessed with irredentism it's either: let him take back all the old Soviet states (which simply won't be tolerated by people there or Europe) or keep up the ongoing defence and make the cost for Russia high enough to stunt them until Putin dies either naturally or by falling out a window. People like Trump and Elon think a deal can be done with Putin or he can be placated, or there's some sort of solution like you're waiting to hear, but all attempts to even begin negotiation fail because Putin is dead set on rebuilding the Empire. Apparently in any discussion about his war he spends hours talking about Russia's historical claims and ownership and shows old documents and books etc. I'm sorry it seems to you like no one has come up with a good solution but it's either give Russia one or more countries (and then he'll want more...) or defend until he loses power or dies. irredentism is a hell of a drug. Putin is fully locked in.
- geoka9 14d agoRegardless of Putin's obsession with Ukraine, the problem is that his clan views this war (and future wars like this) as a campaign to create a new world order where the EU and the US withdraw from supporting countries in what they consider their sphere of influence, and, ultimately, give up any ideas of affecting change inside Russia. It's an age-old story of a crime family holding on to its mafia state.