Posted on 07/16/2023 4:54:44 AM PDT by Alas Babylon!
50 years ago the Soviets posed more of a conventional military threat to Finland and Europe than today. In Finland the memories of the two wars with the Soviets were fresher and more resonant with the public 50 years ago. Being neutral lowered the risk of Soviet aggression. With its large land border with the Soviet Union, Finland was vulnerable. Joining NATO was out of the question then.
A huge change. Finland is NOW part of NATO, with NATO troops moving to bases there. So much neutrality. Did we force them to join NATO, or did you think they were concerned over Russia's attack on Ukraine? Seriously, today is far different from the heyday of Soviet power.
Finland joining NATO is actually a reflection of how weak Finland believes Russia is. As you pointed out in another post, Russia is a corrupt "third-rate" military power, at least conventionally. There is less to fear from Russia by joining NATO. No real consequences except the Russians cutting off natural gas and some electrical sharing agreements, which they did. The Finns refused to pay in rubles abiding by the sanctions.
In 1995 Finland became a member of the EU. They use the euro, not the Finnish markka, which was replaced in 2002. Finland has become more integrated into the European economy. It looks West, not East.
Joining NATO was a no brainer. It was just the last step to being fully integrated into Europe. There was no fear of Russian retaliation and becoming a NATO member obligated the US to be the guarantor of their sovereignty. It really cost them nothing. An insurance policy where the US paid the premium. No downside. Finland was already spending 2% of GDP on defense in 2021.
Agreed. It shows you what the priorities of the political elites really are. Billions for Ukraine but no money to secure our border where 7 million invaders have crossed in the last two years.
Biden to Zelensky: "The bad news for you is that we're not going anywhere. You are stuck with us."
This should terrify Ukrainians. Zelensky could only laugh at this. How much more of this will the Ukrainian people continue to take? By saying "you are stuck with us", the US President is saying Ukraine has no say in the matter, the US will do what it wants, when it wants.
As far as how long the US will remain in Ukraine, that matter will be decided by Russia. Also, US companies such as Blackrock, who have purchased Ukrainian land, will lose all of their investments.
Honestly, I don't know. The numbers vary so much I'd probably split it down the middle from one side (very few) to the other (ridiculously huge) for BOTH sides. Let's say too many for both, sadly.
We really don't know what the Russian's objectives were when they invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
I refer to Putin long-winded speech on Feb 23, 2022. He explicitly said Ukraine wasn't a country and belonged to Russia. It's right there for you to read: Putin laid out his version of Ukrainian history. He started by saying that modern Ukraine was a creation of Vladimir Lenin, who carved a Soviet Republic out of what Putin said was Russian land. Putin said that Joseph Stalin supplemented Ukrainian lands with lands from other eastern European countries following the Second World War, and that his successor Nikita Khrushchev “took Crimea away from Russia for some reason and gave it to Ukraine” in 1954. Putin said that these decisions were “worse than a mistake,” and went on to criticize Ukraine for “mindlessly emulating foreign models” after its 1991 independence.
The Russian military have learned nothing. The Russian MoD's terrible tactics are still terrible. Their own generals command the same way they did in the Soviet days, but with a fraction of the forces available. Wagner did much better because they didn't lead like the rest of the Russian MoD--they used a far better Western manual of warfare. I disagree that Putin has learned from this. You say he will make changes but he kept Shoigu in charge, which was exactly what Prigozhin told him not to do. That is no change at all. Prigozhin is probably dead, but the fat asses in the MoD, the ones who stole billions of rubles marked for defense, are still in charge. When Wagner took Soladr and then finally Bakhmut, when the regulars could not, Putin should have realized that the MoD were useless and promoted Prigozhin over Shoigu and his gang.
As far as the US military goes, the real issue is the intolerable and insufferable state of morale in real Americans. It is not the endless wars, which few fought but all who did were honored under Trump. Nevertheless, Trump had plans to stop them.
The issue is the Deep State takeover of the national power, and Biden stealing the election. Jan 6th had many veterans an even a few active duty in it, and all were punished and vilified as an example. Military personnel overwhelmingly voted for Trump in 2020. And Biden, once in charge, MADE them get the shot and pushed a whole slew of Woke BS down their throats and appointed overlords to ensure they took it. And then Biden's debacle in Afghanistan was a huge body blow to morale. Even woke Miley advised against it, but Biden did not listen, and later lied that Miley never told him.
Conservatives, who join the military more than any other political group in this country, were and are dismayed. For the first time, many veterans like me do not recommend a military career--or even a one and done "hitch"--for a youngster. THAT is why recruiting is so dangerously low.
We need all of the past 3 years reversed.
The endless wars weren't really affecting recruitment because only a very small part of our forces were being used. Trump recommended we keep about 2-4000 people at Bagram. A very sound decision. He wanted to end the fighting, not our entire presence.
That’s a good analysis.
But joining NATO does mean they’ll never have to go it alone against even a revamped and regrown Russia army at some future day after Putin.
Also, the Finns finally brought online the Europe’s biggest nuclear generated electrical power plant in April. The plant’s operator said the No. 3 reactor at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant has a capacity of generating 1,600 megawatts. Olkiluoto 3 is the single largest nuclear reactor in Europe.
That right there wipes out any loses from Russia.
Anyone related to Hahvud or HahvudLaw School is an immediate Disqualifier for Sanity
That’s a huge problem. But, having the cabal running the country is a bigger problem. That one can only be solved by the return of President Trump one way or another.
yes, I know
So true!
Looking forward to the COMPLETE EXPOSURE of the enemy within.
OR...
Was it keep your friends close and your enemies closer?
To expose them all?
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