[ptsal]

Action plan:::: do nothing, do not get into this kerfuffle, remember these folks have been fighting for over a 1,000 years.

[aMorePerfectUnion]

—> remember these folks have been fighting for over a 1,000 years.

Yes. The colors on the map of Europe have been running for 1,000 years.

Now we have two corrupt/evil non-democracies in a conflict.

Let europe solve their own backyard problems using their own money and children’s lives.

[Rockingham]

Let's see if I can clarify matters. Russia is a corrupt autocracy run by a former KGB officer who is hostile to the US and has over 1,600 active, deployed nuclear warheads that are mostly aimed at the US and our allies. Russia also has biological and chemical weapons of mass destruction. Ukraine is an imperfect but slowing improving democracy that wants closer ties with the US and Europe, which the Ukrainian people and government prefer to align with instead of Russia.

In short, as a matter of choice, Russia and her people are hostile toward us at best and enemies by most ways of reckoning such things. Ukraine is friendly and wants to become a friend in full through NATO and EU membership.

No matter how long Russia and Ukraine have been at odds, Russia is an adversary while Ukraine is friendly. And one of the tacit rules of life carries over to strategy: you must oppose your enemies and support your friends. That puts us on the side of Ukraine as a matter of self-interest.

The war is not going well for Russia, which planned on a quick dash to Kiev and the installation of a Russian puppet government that would sign a pro-Russian peace treaty. Ukraine would thereby be incorporated into the Russian sphere of influence, with Russia's oligarchs permitted to loot Ukraine's resources, with kickbacks to Putin.

Instead, Ukraine has bravely fought the Russian invasion and established the basis for popular resistance and a guerilla war. With inadequate troop numbers and weak performance, Russia cannot fully defeat and occupy Ukraine but can bloody her for years to come. Military and economic support from the US, NATO, and the EU will help to impose costs on Russia that cannot be sustained.

With skill and commitment, the US and her allies can force Russia to accept a political solution that secures peace and independence for Ukraine and diminishes the Russian threat to us. And there is a good chance that Putin will end up being killed or ousted by the Russians themselves, potentially in favor of a peaceful, new pro-US government based on democratic principles. That would be a net gain for the US.

[DownInFlames]

The best thing to do is strengthen NATO. Allow Sweden, Finland, Moldova, Andy Kazakstan into the alliance.