[BroJoeK]

teevolt: "Understand the propaganda pamplet says NATO is defensive, but I disagree.
For instance, there was nothing defensive about NATO bombing Serbia in 1999, or NATO bombing Lybia in 2011."

In both cases NATO believed it was defending innocents against atrocities from brutal groups & dictators.
Nor did NATO attempt to conquer Serbia or Libya, they remain independent.

teevolt: "U.S. should declare mission accomplished and leave NATO."

Vlad the Invader's actions in Ukraine and threats against many other countries manifestly prove that NATO's mission to defend Europe is very far from accomplished.

[teevolt]

I don’t see this as simple as Russia bad, west good. Also don’t see Vlad as out of step from most other Russian leaders through history. He warned about western meddling in Ukraine since 2007, maidan revolution of 2014 (western NGO funded, Nuland tapes), Minsk agreement failures, Donbas shelling. From a Russian perspective, I think you can make the case that Vlad waited too long. I believe Merkel even said Minsk was just to buy time for NATO to arm up Ukraine. Russia gets uppity about that region. Famously invaded twice through there. I believe western leaders wanted this conflict, don’t remember any efforts to try to make a peace and save young innocent lives. My opinion anyway.