When the Soviet Union and the Eastern Bloc fell NATO essentially lost its purpose (unless you count keeping troops in Germany ... but even that changed as the Germans liked the economic boost that came with US troops) and became a sort of club where everyone on the block could join except for this one guy.
This was guaranteed to eventually cause problems because, for while it wasn’t quite as bullocks as the treaty arrangements that created WW1 it was not far behind.
NATO should have either disbanded or scaled back till a new purpose derived rationally could be found other than preserving vested interests and perks ( ester interest such as when one German high mucky muck said the “peace dividend” shouldn’t include closing any bases in Germany because that would harm their local economies) and becoming a new way to sponge off of the US where over time more and more would belly up to the bar ... except of course for the guys that simply could not join.
So what followed, NATO gradually encircling the Russians, was bound to lead to problems from the Russians.
The Russians aren’t justified, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have a point.
Sometimes I wonder if the main requirement to be a diplomat is often to have your head shoved completely up you ass. It isn’t just that they preparing to fight the last war, but that in trying to prevent the last war they seem to create the new ones.
I have mixed opinions about this whole Ukraine thing. On the one hand, Ukraine is not a necessary ally of ours in the overall world view.
On the other hand, if Ukraine is simply a stepping-stone to overtake other former U.S.S.R countries then that sounds too much like Hitler and the start of WWII. Hitler first took Czech, then Poland then all of the other ducks fell in a row. If it is in Putin’s mind to do just that then he has to be stopped and it would be justified to kick him where he sits - all the way back to Moscow.
The US isn’t.
Barack Hussein Obama is.
Then he can build his communist utopia.
The author totally ignores the war in the Donbass that Russia provoked, funds, has participated in, and continues to this day.
How is seizing a part of a neighboring country, and launching a war in 2014 "getting along fine"?
It’s not the USA starting WW3...it’s the democRATS.
Tell that to Ukrainians, they will think you lost your marbles. The Cold War was WW3. The Russians are just continuing it, with Biden’s help.
Hitler said "rule or ruin", but the Democrats slogan could be "rule AND ruin".
They seek absolute power over a smouldering ruin. Step one is create the ruin.
Why does Russia, which is still socialist with a small twist of capitalism, have this automatic power to demand Ukraine not join NATO?
Why does the world just default have to accept they just have this level of control over a separate country?
Why is invasion and war against them regarded as their right to do?
Utterly ridiculous.
And Ukraine in response: "MYOB!"
If Russia won't listen to Ukraine, and not, e.g., invade Georgia or other neighboring countries, then Ukraine is under no obligation to listen to Russia.
Ukraine is a sovereign state and has the generally established right to conclude treaties with whomever it wishes - including NATO - without consulting Russia.
Regards,
Brandon has been 100% wrong on every foreign policy that he has ever put forward. I think that one of the reasons that Obama picked him as VP was to find out what the absolute wrong thing to do regarding foreign policy was.
absolutely
The industrial military complex is hard at work.
Gotta protect their money laundering scheme in Ukraine.
Democrats are insane and getting us into WWIII.