I guess the two major bones of contention is I don’t trust our media or government whatsoever and I’m sympathetic to the Russian people in the Donbass who are the majority and desire to be part of Russia and I don’t consider Russia to be the Soviet union anymore or an existential threat to America baring nukes
I also believe the Ukrainian militias in particular have been brutal in that area since 2014 more so than the opposition at least that is what I believe given on all that I have researched over the years I do not believe Putin ever intended to occupy all of Ukraine
Nor do I believe he is an absolute dictator he can be removed and they do actually vote in Russia which considering how we have been lately is relative but I also believe in his most velvet dreams he would probably like to own imperial Russia but that’s not going to happen
I’ve also learned these former east European Soviet bloc entities love nothing more than killing each other anyway if you look at their history especially the first half of the last century and I don’t think we had any business there
Let them sort it out which means given Russia’s size they will probably prevail at some point
Can you dial it back a little bit...there’s too much common sense in that comment for the more-war crowd to handle.
“I guess the two major bones of contention is I don’t trust our media or government whatsoever...”
Well, you’ll get no argument from me on that point.
“...and I’m sympathetic to the Russian people in the Donbass who are the majority and desire to be part of Russia...”
Then they should have allowed for the legal process to play out; that being the criteria set forth under the Ukrainian constitution. Under the Ukrainian constitution, such referenda are allowed, but subject to ALL Ukrainian citizens getting to vote on the issue, not just those in the affected areas. This was brought up back in 2014 and 2015, but Russia — the separatists’ sponsor — screamed FOUL!
“...and I don’t consider Russia to be the Soviet union anymore...”
Territorially, you’re right. But, for all practical purposes, Russia WAS the Soviet Union, because ALL decisions of the USSR came from Russia (specifically, Moscow). Russia (Moscow) was the heart and soul of the USSR. Putin was raised in and by the USSR; her was very much a part of the Soviet apparatus. He hasn’t changed.
“...or an existential threat to America baring nukes.”
Is that a typo? Did you mean “bearing” or “barring” instead? That makes a difference as to the meaning of the clause.
“I also believe the Ukrainian militias in particular have been brutal in that area since 2014...”
So have the local separatist militias and their allies, the Wagner Group. The Wagner Group first showed up in 2014, with the rise of the separatist movements, aided and abetted by Russia.
“...I do not believe Putin ever intended to occupy all of Ukraine.”
At the very least he intended to completely disarm (i.e., demilitarize) Ukraine, remove the Zelensky government and install a pro-Russian toady, who would do Russia’s bidding; and call the shots on any international business Ukraine contemplated. That would be de facto occupation and annexation.
“Nor do I believe he is an absolute dictator he can be removed and they do actually vote in Russia...”
The Germans ELECTED Adolf Hitler. The Iraqis ELECTED Saddam Hussein. The Soviet communists ELECTED Stalin. History is chock full of elected dictators.