Posted on 09/27/2023 3:11:08 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
The Russian nation is more dependent on an autocrat and security state than any other European nation, and it has been for centuries — even before the Soviet era — whether it was the streltsy, Preobrazhensky Guard, Okhrana, Cheka, KGB, or siloviki. The wealthy aristocrats, now called oligarchs (previously boyars) never made a serious bid to circumscribe the autocrats’ power, unlike in most European nations; the Russian Orthodox Church has been dependent on the state since at least 1700; and, as for the masses, they have always been viewed as an instrument of the state or a resource to be exploited. Russia Has Always Paved Its Own Way
Russia has been expansionist since its days as Muscovy, with only military defeat stunting its growth. Russian expansionism (or imperialism) has always been opportunistic and has primarily involved feasting on smaller, weaker nations.
Through the mid-19th century, Russia expanded in all directions, defeating the decaying Ottoman Empire and seizing Polish and Swedish territories with considerable assistance from Austria and Prussia. Its sweep east toward the Pacific faced weak opposition from feudal khanates and primitive Siberian peoples. Only when Russia finally faced a significant foe in China’s Qing dynasty (1689) did it stop. Russia’s great coup de grâce was ejecting Napoleon (1812), but the final defeat (1813) only happened with a British-Austrian-Prussian coalition.
Russia’s westward expansion ended with the Crimean defeat (1856), at which point it pivoted east. From 1864 to 1884, Russia crushed the central Asian khanates (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan). In 1860, Russia took advantage of China’s weakness after the Opium Wars to grab what is now the Russian Far East.
(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...
"The Soviet Union continued Russia’s expansionist, opportunistic policy, using victory in 1945 to create an Eastern European empire and dependencies in Mongolia and North Korea. Only American military commitments prevented further Russian expansion west, south, and through the Korean peninsula.
That’s a long trip to make the point that Putin’s aggression in Georgia (2008) and Ukraine (2014 and 2022) are entirely normal within the sweep of Russian history. Also normal are civilian massacres, co-option of local elites, mistreatment of POWs, and efforts to “Russify” the population — all tactics exercised in tandem with Russian expansion since the 16th century and completely unappreciated by the West.
And this is the fatal error by the West. The Ukraine war does not stem from some contrived grievance over alleged NATO aggression but from the failure of the Western foreign policy cognoscenti to understand that Russia is different from the West. Russia follows its own history and interests. The sacred “rules-based order” cuts no ice with the Russian security state. It is not the addition of NATO members that invites Russian aggression; it is the strange combination of Western intellectual arrogance, cultural/historical ignorance, and shrinking at the use of force that encourages aggression."
Fool.
Deep breaths Chad...USA working with the Russians:
Ultracrepidarian
-Jim Robinson"
I think that the article is on its firmest ground in pointing out the demographic crisis that Russia faces, even though that line of analysis clashes with other contentions. Oddly, Russia’s domestic economic distress is ignored.
OK Karen...errr I mean OK Chad.
That statement from jim was ignored before the data bits crossed the internet. Yet, they’re still here.
You might have put it all in capital letters to better make your point.
Oh and I like how you scream and yell at everyone and engage in calling them Putinistas. Shutting them up. It's a well recognized rhetorical principal. Right out of 1984 you are.
Yes. Exactly. Utracrepidarian. Wear it well.
Your side needs to take that advice first. Just this morning I've been called a "fool" and a "Karen". That's mild compared to the usual run of the bog.
It seems every self-styled expert on all sides of the conflict with Russia is really just pushing his or her own pre-conceived agenda and hammering away at whatever round peg in a square hole. Instead of falling in love with their own prejudices, personal values, and intelligence, perhaps it is time to drop the blinders and understand history and reality.
So, Mearsheimer and Kennan are just "self-styled" experts. Not only do you engage in ad hominems. This non-expert on anything Russian, just blowed himself up as a self-styled expert when all he is is slimey political operative.
Every Single Member of NATO has invaded Russia. Some have invaded Russia multiple times. The USA, Greece and Italy have all invaded Russia. That is why Russia cannot abide having NATO on their borders.
We forget. The Russians never do.
I’m just going to let y’all run with it. In ten years we’ll see who was right.
So it’s your intention to flagrantly ignore JimRob’s edict because you don’t like the opposition to your position. Just want that on the record.
The argument:
“And this is the fatal error by the West. The Ukraine war does not stem from some contrived grievance over alleged NATO aggression but from the failure of the Western foreign policy cognoscenti to understand that Russia is different from the West. Russia follows its own history and interests. The sacred “rules-based order” cuts no ice with the Russian security state. It is not the addition of NATO members that invites Russian aggression; it is the strange combination of Western intellectual arrogance, cultural/historical ignorance, and shrinking at the use of force that encourages aggression.”
Anyone out there with a counter?
Really? Gotta call out that lie. Montenegro?
Better yet, why don't you list the NATO members that Russia hasn't invaded?
US (I would raise Wrangel Island as an objection, but I'll give you that one)
UK
Norway
Portugal
Just since Russia invaded Ukraine, it has made threats to attack (checks notes) Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. And probably some other places I missed.
And yet the Putin Fanbois Soviet here on FR, too prejudiced, too intellectually feeble, or both, to distinguish cause from effect, is convinced that Russia is the innocent victim of scheming by neighbors.
No, the Neo-Fascist, or “Rashist”, is too busy whining about being indirectly called a putinista, when no one called them that.
“The Putinistas will scream an(d) stamp their feet, but this is what Moscow’s war on Ukraine is all about.” — Post 1, Chad C. Mulligan
Did he call you, or anyone on this site a "Putinista"?
No, if however you still feel unconvinced, perhaps you can show us on the doll where the bad man touched your 'feelings'.
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