[BushCountry]

“They’re a schoolyard bully who hates it when their victims fight back.”

This is just plain stupid. It is possible the war can escalate no matter who is in the wrong. I know of a country that firebombed cities killing hundreds of thousands of civilians and when that didn’t work they dropped nuclear bombs on cities to stop a war.

Millions upon millions died less than a century ago, both the morally superior and those that were not. Being right or wrong did not change the outcome. War is never fair to the victims. You have no idea how close (either do I) we are to the start of a nuclear war and being right in your mind does not change the fact. If Putin is the nutcase you say he is, be prepared for hell throughout the world.

[MeganC]

If Putin is a nutcase then defeating him before he starts another war is all the more important.

[MeganC]

Also, knock it off with the nuclear scaremongering. Russia’s been playing that card since 2014 and it’s gotten old.

[blitz128]

Agreed, so what is to be done? Do a chamberlain and declare peace in our time, that worked out well espnfor Czechs

[BroJoeK]

BushCountry: "I know of a country that firebombed cities killing hundreds of thousands of civilians and when that didn’t work they dropped nuclear bombs on cities to stop a war."

And do you remember who began bombing civilian cities in China, for example, Chongqing in 1938, killing tens of thousands of civilians?
Who do you think did that?

And while we're on the subject, do you remember who began bombing civilians in Europe, for example, Guernica, Spain, in 1937?
Who do you think did that?

Do you remember who began bombing Polish, Dutch and British cities in 1939 & 1940, killing tens of thousands?

So let's talk about those bombings, and the millions of others those countries killed long before western allies could begin to return the... ah... favors.

BushCountry: "Millions upon millions died less than a century ago, both the morally superior and those that were not.
Being right or wrong did not change the outcome.
War is never fair to the victims."

Being right had everything to do with Western Allied victory.

And before you begin shedding bucket-loads of tears for those poor, unfortunate, Axis victims of mean & nasty Allies, remember these numbers:

1. 7 million Germans, military plus civilians died in WWII.
   
2. 37 million other Europeans died in the war Germany waged against them.

3. 3 million Japanese, military plus civilians died in WWII.
   
4. 30 million other Asians died in the war Japan waged against them.

The war the allies waged on Axis powers was 100% humanitarian and just, compared to the barbarisms inflicted by the Axis powers on their European and Asian victims.

If we only count up the deaths on each side, then Germany and Japan WON the Second World War by 5 to 1 and 10 to 1 respectively.

Allied justice to Germans and Japanese was hugely merciful, compared to what they truly deserved, and nobody should ever forget that.

BushCountry: "You have no idea how close (either do I) we are to the start of a nuclear war and being right in your mind does not change the fact.
If Putin is the nutcase you say he is, be prepared for hell throughout the world."

Vlad the Invader is Old Soviet KGB, and like the Old Soviets, he's a bully and Empire Builder.
Like them, Vlad responds to weakness with aggression and to strength with respect.
Like the Old Soviets, Putin threatens nuclear war, but, perhaps, like them he will not be so insane as to trigger Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD).

If he does, then he is a vastly sicker S.O.B. than we can imagine, and one result will be the destruction of Russia as a country.
No sane person would do that, and no sane government would allow its leader to order such MADness.