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Ignoring Russian History Is Costly (A large nation does not engage in the same pattern of behavior for centuries for no reason.)
The Spectator ^ | September 13, 2023, 11:05 PM | Keith Naughton

Posted on 09/27/2023 3:11:08 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan

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The Putinistas will scream ans stamp their feet, but this is what Moscow's war on Ukraine is all about.

"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."

1 posted on 09/27/2023 3:11:08 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

Fool.


2 posted on 09/27/2023 3:19:52 AM PDT by Segovia
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

Deep breaths Chad...USA working with the Russians:

https://spaceflightnow.com/2023/09/27/live-coverage-space-station-crew-to-return-to-earth-after-371-day-mission/


3 posted on 09/27/2023 3:22:06 AM PDT by Drago
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To: Segovia

Ultracrepidarian


4 posted on 09/27/2023 3:28:05 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: Chad C. Mulligan
--- ”We are conservatives. Be respectful to your debate adversary (fellow FReeper). For example, do not accuse them of being a "Putinista", "comrade", "murderer", "baby-killer", etc, just because he may have a difference of opinion whether or not the US government should be involved in a controversial foreign war where we were not attacked.”

-Jim Robinson"

5 posted on 09/27/2023 3:36:24 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

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.


6 posted on 09/27/2023 3:39:40 AM PDT by Rockingham
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

OK Karen...errr I mean OK Chad.


7 posted on 09/27/2023 3:43:14 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

That statement from jim was ignored before the data bits crossed the internet. Yet, they’re still here.


8 posted on 09/27/2023 3:45:20 AM PDT by BlackbirdSST (Trump or Bust! Long live the Republic.)
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To: Chad C. Mulligan
That God you put it in bold. Otherwise I would have seen through this purblish warmongering prose. But it's BOLD so I have to admit it has all the logical force of being BOLD. So. I have no argument to defeat your BOLD argument.

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.

9 posted on 09/27/2023 3:48:48 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

Yes. Exactly. Utracrepidarian. Wear it well.


10 posted on 09/27/2023 3:51:56 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: fieldmarshaldj
”We are conservatives. Be respectful to your debate adversary (fellow FReeper)

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.

11 posted on 09/27/2023 3:55:42 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: Chad C. Mulligan
Here's the clincher CHAD.

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.

12 posted on 09/27/2023 3:57:34 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

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.


13 posted on 09/27/2023 3:58:25 AM PDT by MMusson
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To: AndyJackson

I’m just going to let y’all run with it. In ten years we’ll see who was right.


14 posted on 09/27/2023 4:13:26 AM PDT by Chad C. Mulligan
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To: Chad C. Mulligan

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.


15 posted on 09/27/2023 4:16:39 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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To: fieldmarshaldj

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?


16 posted on 09/27/2023 5:18:32 AM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: MMusson
Every Single Member of NATO has invaded Russia

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.

17 posted on 09/27/2023 5:22:10 AM PDT by Pilsner
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To: Bookshelf; fieldmarshaldj

No, the Neo-Fascist, or “Rashist”, is too busy whining about being indirectly called a putinista, when no one called them that.


18 posted on 09/27/2023 5:24:35 AM PDT by Brellium (The environment is of upmost importance, without trees where will we hang Moscovites?)
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To: Brellium

“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


19 posted on 09/27/2023 5:42:00 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (America Owes Anita Bryant An Enormous Apology)
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To: fieldmarshaldj
“The Putinistas will scream an(d) stamp their feet, but this is what Moscow’s war on Ukraine is all about.”

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'.

20 posted on 09/27/2023 5:48:05 AM PDT by Brellium (The environment is of upmost importance, without trees where will we hang Moscovites?)
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