Drawing red lines has gotten considerably more difficult in the last 20 years. It used to be that you could say, if you cross my border, you have launched an invasion of my country, or if you attack me, you have declared war against me.
I have always believed that Levis were the real reason the Soviet Union collapsed. Now, what do we do? Every Russian has Levis now. So Biden must retaliate in full: Cyber attack Russian infrastructure the same way they attacked pipelines. One for one. Here's another, and I've said it before: Freeze or confiscate EVERY SINGLE RUSSIAN OWNED business, home, bank, account, or anything of collateral value without exception, FOREVER. The Oligarchs will go apeshit crazy that their "Bug out" assets (Yes, they have 'preppers' too), are gone. Russian playgrounds in the US such as NYC, St. Tropez, Aspen, St. Moritz, Hawaii and all the rest would be forbidden to Russian tourists...let's say for 10 years. Do this everywhere. Make the bastards bleed greenbacks and face NOT WELCOME signs. Shun the muthas. Vladimir Putin is a simple murderous dictator, a product of the Soviet Union...which as the poet once said, "The Soviet Russia is history's bastard child that should have been strangled in its cradle." So, let's strangle it now while we have the chance. We don't need no stinking guns...or badges. Rant over.
See above, Mike. When I went to the USSR over half my suitcase was Levis and cartons of Marlboros. The folks in Leningrad and Moscow loved 'em. Unfortunately, all I have left to show for it is a KGB tee shirt and a Red Army belt buckle. (Welp, I do also have a Russian Pepsi bottle that I wouldn't dare open and consume.)
This is going to get much much worse, very very fast. Civilians are fleeing into Poland. Ukrainian soldiers will retreat with them. Poland could become involved by no fault of its own. They are a NATO member. The big fear I have is: Putin may not stop with Ukraine. If a NATO nation is attacked, it's a world war.
Great summation of the relevant history of Putin and his manly pursuits. I’m hoping someone poisons him, along the lines of Rasputin, since he’s sooooooo into Russian history.
I am not defending Putin in any way, but 20 years is not a long enough historical measure. Nixon invaded Cambodia without any legal justification, and H.W. Bush similarly invaded Panama, not to mention all the CIA-led “invasions”in the Middle East and Latin America.
As I write, Putin has invaded more than merely the “territories” he thought were Russian and that he took into his protection. Now Kyiv hears the beating of the drums. We cannot give Ukrainian people our thoughts and prayers and expect that to be adequate. All of the things you suggest, as well as finally getting some spine in the United Nations and freezing Russia out of the Security Council may have some affect. What the hell was the UN formed to do in the first place? This is so frightening. And TFG referring to Putin’s behavior as genius and savvy. Doesn’t that make us proud!?
A brilliant analysis of historical events perpetuated by Russia. specifically Putin. The only problem I see withy the suggested very extreme solutions is that a corned rat will go for the throat. Putin could get so angry that he would unleash a full scale invasion of Europe after launching an attack on New York, Washington and Los Angeles, via atomic missiles aboard nuclear submarines off the east and West coasts. Science fiction? Maybe, the n again maybe not.
Robert: All joking aside, I'm afraid you are closer to reality than anyone suspects. All it takes is one big mistake... And, when was the last big mistake that impacted the entire human race? Ah yes, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. The Japanese strategy was simple, knock the Americans out by destroying the Pacific Fleet. What was their mistake, exactly? It was that the Japanese right wing militarists, in their invincible arrogance of race hating and superiority, figured Americans would beg for an end to hostilities soon after the attack. They were wrong about the timeline but right---but right---after the 2nd bomb had incinerated Nagasaki. That's about when Hirohito realized his and their mistake. No plan of battle remains intact once the enemy is engaged. There are no guarantees NUKES won't be used in this. Common sense says it'll not happen. I'm betting common sense never survives this conflict.
I agree, Mile. it doesn't take much for matters to get out of hand. What if after Ukraine he goes after one of the Baltic states now under NATO where American troops are stationed? That alone could start WWIII and if China and North Korea and maybe Iran even decided this would be a good opportunity for them to get back at us just as Japan and Italy did when they sided with Hitler? It would be the long forecasted Armageddon.
Somewhere in the distance Neville Chamberlain is screaming, "Don't Do It!" we are repeating history, thinking that shutting down banks and manufacturers will make the other guy back up. Putin does not care. He knows about the siege of Leningrad and that while painful, resistance would prevail. He wants Ukraine and after eight years of planning he is acting and will accept dark nights and no internet in Moscow. He knows it will be rough and he knows from past experience the west won't fight. We have come to that place where we get up and hammer the Red Army or accept Russian domination of Europe and the end of the United States as a world power. Putin is not afraid of war, he is not afraid of us. This is a tragedy. In 1950 Gen. Curtis Le May asked President Truman, "What are you going to do when Stalin sends the Red Army into West Germany and he dares you to blow up the world?" Putin believes absolutely Ukraine will be his. We have to prove him wrong. Shutting down a bank is nothing compared to a defeated Red Army.
The West may stand up and fight. Maybe. And, maybe not. Ukraine might be Putin's Sudetenland...which means there'll be more to follow. Retaliation by the United States will be unlike any other in all of human history, given the circumstances. We'll just have to wait and see what President Biden really does, if anything. Then again, he (we) might do nothing. Just like Sudetenland, Austria and Czechoslavkia.
And are we attempting to "CyberF**k" the living daylights out of the Russians? If not, why the hell not! I would hope we've enlisted as many Silicon Valley Brainiacs as possible to "Ratf**k" Russia as much as possible. Again, "If not, why not?"
In June of 1990 I went on a 16-day assignment to the USSR. A close friend (He'd been ABC's Bureau Photographer there in the mid-80s.) told me, "Don't be over-awed. They're generally good people, but it's a 3rd World Country that has nuclear weapons."
The West has so many advantages over Putin's Russia. Why aren't we exploiting them?
You are absolutely right. We cannot "Neville Chamberlain" our way out of this. Everytime Putin makes a move, counter with an even stronger response. We guaranteed the borders of Ukraine when they turned over their nukes. Time to be the US we claim to be.
I have always believed that Levis were the real reason the Soviet Union collapsed. Now, what do we do? Every Russian has Levis now. So Biden must retaliate in full: Cyber attack Russian infrastructure the same way they attacked pipelines. One for one. Here's another, and I've said it before: Freeze or confiscate EVERY SINGLE RUSSIAN OWNED business, home, bank, account, or anything of collateral value without exception, FOREVER. The Oligarchs will go apeshit crazy that their "Bug out" assets (Yes, they have 'preppers' too), are gone. Russian playgrounds in the US such as NYC, St. Tropez, Aspen, St. Moritz, Hawaii and all the rest would be forbidden to Russian tourists...let's say for 10 years. Do this everywhere. Make the bastards bleed greenbacks and face NOT WELCOME signs. Shun the muthas. Vladimir Putin is a simple murderous dictator, a product of the Soviet Union...which as the poet once said, "The Soviet Russia is history's bastard child that should have been strangled in its cradle." So, let's strangle it now while we have the chance. We don't need no stinking guns...or badges. Rant over.
See above, Mike. When I went to the USSR over half my suitcase was Levis and cartons of Marlboros. The folks in Leningrad and Moscow loved 'em. Unfortunately, all I have left to show for it is a KGB tee shirt and a Red Army belt buckle. (Welp, I do also have a Russian Pepsi bottle that I wouldn't dare open and consume.)
Imprison them within their own country. 👍🏻
Doubly so - they're already imprisoned there!
The West needs to hire Vinnie Baga Donuts to take the bully out.
This is going to get much much worse, very very fast. Civilians are fleeing into Poland. Ukrainian soldiers will retreat with them. Poland could become involved by no fault of its own. They are a NATO member. The big fear I have is: Putin may not stop with Ukraine. If a NATO nation is attacked, it's a world war.
I fear you are correct.
Great summation of the relevant history of Putin and his manly pursuits. I’m hoping someone poisons him, along the lines of Rasputin, since he’s sooooooo into Russian history.
I think they had to stab and drown him too. oh hell yeah!
Once would not be enough!
Li'l Vlad deserves "The Full Rasputin"!
This is a contemporary version of containment - it worked then, it could work now.
I am not defending Putin in any way, but 20 years is not a long enough historical measure. Nixon invaded Cambodia without any legal justification, and H.W. Bush similarly invaded Panama, not to mention all the CIA-led “invasions”in the Middle East and Latin America.
And then there's Reagan's invasion of Grenada in 1983.
True.
LKT4 for President!
As I write, Putin has invaded more than merely the “territories” he thought were Russian and that he took into his protection. Now Kyiv hears the beating of the drums. We cannot give Ukrainian people our thoughts and prayers and expect that to be adequate. All of the things you suggest, as well as finally getting some spine in the United Nations and freezing Russia out of the Security Council may have some affect. What the hell was the UN formed to do in the first place? This is so frightening. And TFG referring to Putin’s behavior as genius and savvy. Doesn’t that make us proud!?
A brilliant analysis of historical events perpetuated by Russia. specifically Putin. The only problem I see withy the suggested very extreme solutions is that a corned rat will go for the throat. Putin could get so angry that he would unleash a full scale invasion of Europe after launching an attack on New York, Washington and Los Angeles, via atomic missiles aboard nuclear submarines off the east and West coasts. Science fiction? Maybe, the n again maybe not.
“A cornered rat will go for the throat”. I think the barn door’s closed on that already. He’s gone shitweasel crazy, if you read his speech.
Robert: All joking aside, I'm afraid you are closer to reality than anyone suspects. All it takes is one big mistake... And, when was the last big mistake that impacted the entire human race? Ah yes, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941. The Japanese strategy was simple, knock the Americans out by destroying the Pacific Fleet. What was their mistake, exactly? It was that the Japanese right wing militarists, in their invincible arrogance of race hating and superiority, figured Americans would beg for an end to hostilities soon after the attack. They were wrong about the timeline but right---but right---after the 2nd bomb had incinerated Nagasaki. That's about when Hirohito realized his and their mistake. No plan of battle remains intact once the enemy is engaged. There are no guarantees NUKES won't be used in this. Common sense says it'll not happen. I'm betting common sense never survives this conflict.
I agree, Mile. it doesn't take much for matters to get out of hand. What if after Ukraine he goes after one of the Baltic states now under NATO where American troops are stationed? That alone could start WWIII and if China and North Korea and maybe Iran even decided this would be a good opportunity for them to get back at us just as Japan and Italy did when they sided with Hitler? It would be the long forecasted Armageddon.
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." Mike Tyson
Li'l Vlad deserves to get punched in the mouth. Repeatedly!
Somewhere in the distance Neville Chamberlain is screaming, "Don't Do It!" we are repeating history, thinking that shutting down banks and manufacturers will make the other guy back up. Putin does not care. He knows about the siege of Leningrad and that while painful, resistance would prevail. He wants Ukraine and after eight years of planning he is acting and will accept dark nights and no internet in Moscow. He knows it will be rough and he knows from past experience the west won't fight. We have come to that place where we get up and hammer the Red Army or accept Russian domination of Europe and the end of the United States as a world power. Putin is not afraid of war, he is not afraid of us. This is a tragedy. In 1950 Gen. Curtis Le May asked President Truman, "What are you going to do when Stalin sends the Red Army into West Germany and he dares you to blow up the world?" Putin believes absolutely Ukraine will be his. We have to prove him wrong. Shutting down a bank is nothing compared to a defeated Red Army.
The West may stand up and fight. Maybe. And, maybe not. Ukraine might be Putin's Sudetenland...which means there'll be more to follow. Retaliation by the United States will be unlike any other in all of human history, given the circumstances. We'll just have to wait and see what President Biden really does, if anything. Then again, he (we) might do nothing. Just like Sudetenland, Austria and Czechoslavkia.
All those "should's" in the second-to-last paragraph! I wonder if any of those actions will ever be taken. I doubt it.
And are we attempting to "CyberF**k" the living daylights out of the Russians? If not, why the hell not! I would hope we've enlisted as many Silicon Valley Brainiacs as possible to "Ratf**k" Russia as much as possible. Again, "If not, why not?"
In June of 1990 I went on a 16-day assignment to the USSR. A close friend (He'd been ABC's Bureau Photographer there in the mid-80s.) told me, "Don't be over-awed. They're generally good people, but it's a 3rd World Country that has nuclear weapons."
The West has so many advantages over Putin's Russia. Why aren't we exploiting them?
You are absolutely right. We cannot "Neville Chamberlain" our way out of this. Everytime Putin makes a move, counter with an even stronger response. We guaranteed the borders of Ukraine when they turned over their nukes. Time to be the US we claim to be.
Astounding information here establishing a pattern of betrayal and brutality.
Putin -- A true Romanov Wanna Be...
The Romanov solution is called for again.
We can use Superman/Superwoman about now. Innocent people will suffer. I am sad, mad, and scared.