(no subject)

[malasadas.livejournal.com]

I keep reading people who say we "must get tough" with Russia. Apart from how that is a major misread of the past 20 years of policy, it is also a very cavalier take on the potential threats of setting off a new Cold War. For those too young to recall, the Cold War was actually terrifying and on several occasions, total catastrophe was averted by single, level headed men in the exact right place.

And just in case one needs the lesson visually, here is the forum appropriate link:

Comments

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

I get that it would be a further reach, but the logic
of the argument would seem to dictate that we must
be so chary of a nuclear holocaust that we dare not
confront Putin directly, no matter the claim. What are
EU and NATO but so many more lines on the map?

[i.livejournal.com]

What is the upside of "confronting" Putin, whatever that means?

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

I suppose the two stark possibilities are either
to keep a tyrant in his place, or else to watch the end of
civilization go up in mushroom clouds.

Or we can play it safe, and just let Putin take
what he wishes, and hope that internal force thwart him,
but what kind of outcome is that?

But I was taking the OP's argument to an extreme.
I doubt Putin is so mad that he intends to keep galloping
across the map. Yet, I am not so sure We have seen
this kind of thing before, but I dread to have someone invoke
Godwin.

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

The U.S. has been isolating Russia for some time, this is some push back. Crimea has strong Russian ties.

[hardblue.livejournal.com]

The U.S. has been isolating Russia for some time

Well, under the Soviet system it was an unapologetic totalitarian government.
Were we supposed to regard it as England or France?

Or do you mean since the fall of the wall? In which case,
I suppose we were trying to giver previously captured states
some strong ties to the democratic West, fearing that this
kind of regression in Russian governance was possible.
We're not completely shocked by what is happening.

Crimea has strong Russian ties.

Are you saying that this is justified and Russia is just taking
back what is hers?

[fizzyland.livejournal.com]

Russia, post-Soviet Union was seen as wounded and we took advantage in trying to make alliances with former satellites. With the entry of former Warsaw Pact nations into NATO and alliance with the EU, it put pressure on Russia to maintain influence.

What I'm saying about Crimea is that there are a lot of ties to Russia. I read something earlier about the head of the navy in Crimea declaring allegiance to Russia. It's complicated.

And we can't really go in with the stealth bombers like it's Baghdad. The Chinese probably love watching this mess.

[anfalicious.livejournal.com]

I think when a country annexes another country because of ethnic similarities the situation has Godwin'd itself :P