[ClearCase_guy]

As a very broad statement about the current state of our world —

I don’t personally deal very well with arbitrary and changing rules. This has been evident with COVID restrictions and with the multi-level justice system now in place in the US.

But we see it also in things like NATO. The basic NATO agreement: if one NATO member is attacked, the rest of NATO will join together to respond. Example: If the USSR invades West Germany, all of NATO will go to war against the USSR. That’s the core concept.

Today’s situation: Did Russia attack Ukraine? Yes. Is Ukraine part of NATO? No.

So it turns out that NATO is not about defending NATO members — its really just an aggressive military alliance aimed at weakening Russia.

We tell ourselves that we are the Good Guys, but we’re jumping into a war with a nuclear power. That’s not good.

[ought-six]

“So it turns out that NATO is not about defending NATO members — its really just an aggressive military alliance aimed at weakening Russia.”

No, it’s about stopping the threat BEFORE a NATO member is attacked.

[Rockingham]

Your reasoning is faulty. Russia's unjustified attack on Ukraine touched off a massive refugee flow into NATO countries and poses a direct strategic menace to NATO members Poland, the three Baltic republics, and other members in central and east Europe. If subjugated by Russia, Ukraine would no longer provide a buffer against Russian aggression.

And, as the old saying goes, appetite grows with the eating, so a Russia that was successful in her attack on Ukraine would be inspired toward further aggression. Notably, Russia has previously demanded that former Warsaw Pact countries like Poland and Hungary et al. be essentially demilitarized and made subordinate to Russian economic and political demands.

As for the NATO alliance being arbitrary and changing, just how do you propose to deal with renewed military threats to the US and other NATO members? Pretend that threats do not exist, or act in the interest of NATO and its members? As it is, Putin was repeatedly warned by the US and other NATO countries not to attack Ukraine.

With Ukraine attacked, perhaps you would prefer for the US and NATO to have said, well, Vladimir, never mind. Just go ahead and consume Ukraine. Please do not be mean to us. No alliance would survive such a demonstration of it ineffectiveness. NATO would be dead and China and other enemies of the US would soon go on the march.

[Cronos]

NATO didn’t declare war.

It is helping a buffer state to prevent Putin’s aggression