Posted on 09/01/2014 8:04:33 AM PDT by Hojczyk
Russia would have triumphed over the world order imposed by the West after the Soviet Union lost the Cold War. This would mean the destruction of American geopolitical deterrence. Americas enemies, from China to Iran, would see this as an invitation to establish their own spheres of influence amid the wreckage.
Russia would not stop there. Mr. Putin wants to undermine NATO, and the smell of weakness would tempt him further. It would be merely a matter of time before Moscow exploited the Russians in the Baltic States to manufacture new frozen conflicts. Poland would feel compelled to act as though NATO did not exist, creating a defensive military alliance of its own with the Baltics; it might even establish a buffer zone in western Ukraine.
There is no easy way out now. But we must not let thousands of Ukrainians die because we dithered. We must be honest with them if we are not willing to fight a new Cold War with Russia over Ukrainians independence. But if we force Ukraine to surrender, rather than sacrifice lives in a fight for which we have no stomach, then we must accept that it is a surrender, too, for NATO, for Europe and liberal democracy, and for American global leadership. That is the choice before us.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
I’ll admit, like 80% of Freepers just a year ago, that I like what Putin has done internally in Russia to keep the country together (i.e., social policy). I’m not too hot on other stuff, like the jailings and killings of terrorists, but Russia is Russia.
As to Ukraine - yea, in a perfect world, differences would be settled peacefully...but what Russia wants in that part of the world, Russia will get...in the end. Regarding NATO - yea, it has bothered me JUST AS MUCH that once the UN tells us to shove it, we just go to NATO and use them as our pretext to destroy countries and advance ethnic cleansing (particularly Yugoslavia, as you note).
At the very least, if we REALLY WANT to send our troops all over the world to save people from the Christians (LOL), then we should beef up our military to the point where we can still fight REAL ENEMIES (such as the Norks, Iran, and China) should that need arise. And based on all our adventurism, maybe double spending (or at least increase it 50%).
Interesting or more correctly, sadly, what Oboza’s/Killary’s illegal war has created in Libya, a total chaos by removing Gadhafi !!!
Well, well, ansel knows how to fix it!!!
Interestiansel12; interview with two retired Generals!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPzZlmhMHIo&feature=youtu.be
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