“Hawaii is a modern state in the 21st Century, and it really doesn’t matter bugger all what happened in 1893.”
Great. So any territory that any great power steals and conquers at gunpoint is okie dokie with you, a century on.
We Putined Hawaii in 1893, and you are totally happy about it.
Then you must be a great Putin fan in 2022.
“We Putined Hawaii in 1893,”
No we didn’t. Neither of us were even born in 1893.
“and you are totally happy about it.”
I am totally aware of Jomo Kenyatta’s ranch house speech. “...We cannot afford to look backwards, my friends.” Simple truth, simply stated, the full speech available on You Tube.
Putin is the reactionary, trying to reestablish the old boundaries of the Soviet Union. The former Republics, including Ukraine, have moved on. So, too, I believe, have the majority of the Russian people. Ukrainians foolishly believe that the EU and NATO are some wonderful, progressive organizations, instead of a haven for small-minded bureaucrats and grasping control freaks who can’t make mud out of sand. It’s no threat to Russia, really, though I can understand Putin’s apprehensions. But since VZ has already stated that he’s no longer interested in NATO membership, that should settle that. Once he withdraws his troops, writes condolence letters to all the bereaved parents whose sons died for him in Ukraine, and is tried and punished for his war crimes, Russia and Ukraine can finally sit down and negotiate like adults over the fate of Crimea, etc.
VZ has said that he’s been trying to negotiate with Putin for two years. I believe him. Bears don’t negotiate until they’ve been bested, though. Once they’ve mauled one unicorn, they move on to the next, unless they’re stopped.