All of Russia’s neighbors are scared, really scared of Putin’s threats and actions. It makes me wonder how any decent person can feel it’s the fault of these countries that they’re basically prey animals for the predator Putin’s bullying. First they were brutalized by the NAZIS, then the Soviets till the end of the Cold War, and now that they’re free and wanted to focus on things besides gratuitous spending on the military. They wanted. They’re scorned for being weak by some of our FReepers who admire Putin, whom they say they admire being strong and at least loving his country. Apparently, loving your country means bullying all of your neighbors. When did conservatives become fond of bullies? This seems more the philosophy of the jail house catamite to me.
"We cannot be dependent on only one or 1 1/2 markets," Lukashenka told Kabyakau. "Yes, Russia is our brother, our friend. But you see how they behave lately."
well put.
Agreed
Everyone wants to focus on productive things in peace and freedom, but the world is the way it is. Freedom is not an entitlement -- it must be constantly defended and preserved, sometimes at great cost. Lithuania's misfortune is to be proximate to Russia and thus, it needs to do what it needs to do to preserve its independence and its freedom.
We can (and should) sympathize with their dilemma and offer our help to the extent that we can, but the responsibility for a nation's freedom ultimately resides with itself. It does no good to whine about their situation. They need to build up a credible military counter-threat to the forces of evil that oppress them.
Actually Lithuania was first occupied by the Soviets when the Soviets and the Nazis were still allies, then by the Nazis and then by the Soviets again.
bump