“What I’ve gathered over the past few weeks is, since some of us here believe that Ukraine “belongs” to Russia (or that it is Russia’s “backyard”), any move to support or defend Ukraine is an attack on the Russians.”
You’ve got it about right. No different than the Cold War. When the Russians needed to bring Hungary back into the fold in 1956, we let them (rather than start WW3). When the Russians needed to bring Czechoslovakia back into the fold in 1968, we let them (rather than start WW3).
So, yes, considering the hardware they have, and the alternatives, I think we responded correctly then...which is why my family didn’t get vaporized. I guess this time we’re supposed to to the other way?
Are you suggesting that Eisenhower didn't try to make things difficult for the Soviets? Versus the surrender-monkeys we have here now?
As long as we kept appeasing the Soviets, they just kept invading more countries and kept growing and threatening us. Then Ronald Reagan stood up to them and within a few years, they were smashed to pieces.