Posted on 12/31/2021 5:31:14 AM PST by Kaslin
As was reported yesterday, resident Joe Biden took a call from Russian President Vladimir Putin where the two leaders discussed the situation on Russia’s border with Ukraine, among other matters. Despite the best efforts of the State Department to put some positive spin on the discussion, it doesn’t sound as if things went very well. Both sides wound up sticking to their previous positions and Putin sounded increasingly frustrated and belligerent over what he perceives as NATO’s stubborn refusal to comply with his demands. Biden reportedly didn’t offer any additional sweeteners in an effort to cut a deal and Putin wound up warning that the relationship between Washington and Moscow could undergo a “complete rupture” if NATO pushes any further eastward. While Putin continues to insist that he has “no plans” to invade Ukraine, he’s also not pulling any more troops away from the border. In other words, the stalemate continues. (Associated Press)
resident Joe Biden has warned Russia’s Vladimir Putiin that the U.S. could impose new sanctions against Russia if it takes further military action against Ukraine, while Putin responded that such a U.S. move could lead to a complete rupture of ties between the nations.The two leaders spoke frankly for nearly an hour Thursday amid growing alarm over Russia’s troop buildup near Ukraine, a crisis that has deepened as the Kremlin has stiffened its insistence on border security guarantees and test-fired hypersonic missiles to underscore its demands.
Further U.S. sanctions “would be a colossal mistake that would entail grave consequences,” said Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov, who briefed reporters in Moscow after the Biden-Putin phone conversation. He added that Putin told Biden that Russia would act as the U.S. would if offensive weapons were deployed near American borders.
Hearing Putin talk about a “complete rupture” in our relationship may sound alarming, but how much worse could the relationship really get short of open military conflict? Putin himself recently said that the US-Russian relationship was already at the lowest point anyone has seen since the cold war.
But should we really be giving Biden poor marks in terms of foreign diplomacy over this? My thoughts on that question have been shifting in recent months. While it’s true that nobody really wants to see this sort of tension between the world’s superpowers, the fact is that Russia has been acting in an increasingly aggressive fashion on a number of fronts and Putin hasn’t exactly been extending the hand of friendship.
We had a much more cordial relationship with Russia when Donald Trump was in office, but what did that really get us in return? Putin’s human rights record remains abysmal and the hostility of Russia toward its neighbors has been unrelenting. They have also been openly aiding our other adversaries, including Iran and Venezuela while meddling in the affairs of Turkey and its neighbors. It’s long been known that the Russians have been covertly violating international sanctions against Iran and North Korea. In short, playing nice with Russia hasn’t really gained much of anything for the west.
None of this means that we shouldn’t try to avoid warfare on Russia’s borders, of course. As I suggested yesterday, the person Joe Biden really needs to be on the phone with is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (And perhaps he already is behind the scenes.) If we’re to take Putin at his word – a dubious proposition on the best of days – he will pull back and not invade Ukraine if he is assured that NATO won’t offer them membership. Nobody in the west wants to deny Ukraine and the other former Soviet satellite states that option if they desire it, but no one can force Ukraine to join either. One statement from Zelensky saying that he has no plans to apply to join NATO could potentially defuse the entire situation.
We probably have a bit more time to find a solution. Even if Putin plans to invade, most analysts seem to believe that he will wait until March or April to do so. The weather is currently pretty brutal to launch a military campaign, so we may have a few months to work out a non-military solution to this standoff.
The globalists need their war with Russia. Their persistence is one of the globalist’s strongest assets.
“unless the US gets really stupid.”
{sigh}
Sure we do. Just because some corrupt sh!t-hole country wants to have the U.S. protect it from its neighbors, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea for the U.S. to sign on to that arrangement.
Putin should bring back the thrilling days of yesteryear and put some missiles in Cuber again.
I dunno. Just got thru reading David Glantz’ book “When Titans Clashed: How the Red Army Stopped Hitler”. What you notice in that book is the extent to which the Soviets shifted their efforts south (toward the Ukraine) in the winter months of 1943-5. Winter campaigns are historically pretty common in that area.
Still, I don’t see any signs of an ultimatum in anything that Putin is saying.
I still think privately, Stalin was more than happy to know that Hitler was taking care of Stalin’s “Jewish Problem”.
What is at stake in the Ukraine is Nato membership. Because with membership comes ‘standardization’ and lucrative weapons deals. If the Ukraine joins NATO, their tanks become German and their aircraft become American. This is the game that has played out all over central & eastern Europe since 1990. The Russians are belatedly drawing a line with the Ukraine & Finland.
Becoming an ally with Stalin’s Soviet Union was just as bad as doing a deal over slavery in order to get a vote for Independence. We ignore the former but agonize over the latter. But that’s the way things go.
My proposal, is to divide Ukraine up into three parts.
Western Ukraine - Based in L’viv, the part of the Ukraine, that traditionally belonged to Austria-Hungary and Poland. Could be eligible for NATO and EU membership. Potentially also become a member of the Visegrad Group, along with Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, etc.
Ukraine - Based in Kiev, would be neutral, NATO and Russia will not be allowed to base troops there, or join any such alliance. Basically serves as a buffer state.
Eastern Ukraine (Donbass) - Free to join Russia or become aligned with Russia.
There is not. The media and Democrat Party, for reasons known only to themselves, has been trying to start a nuclear war between the united States and Russia. It could be to help their owners and masters, the Communists Chinese. Both, [the Democrat Party and the media] can’t wait until America is garrisoned by Communists troops. But the people love and adore both the Democrat Party. It could be because they [the media and Democrat Party] both equally hate and despise America.
AOL commie news was having orgasms.
I think Putin would take that deal if anybody would offer it.
Putin: Vat do you say Brandon?
Biden: I say let’s go!
Putin: Let’s go where? Not to the Ukraine.
Biden: No. I say let’s go get an ice cream at Ben & Jerry! We can talk climate change.
Putin: That is for sissies... where is Cornpop? Is he your Chief of Defense? In Russia, we tattoo our body. Let me see your tattoos?
Biden: No. Cornpop is not Chief of Defense. I have General Milley who is very, very Woke, CRT and LGBT orientated. He doesn’t have tattoos... I don’t think.
Putin: So he is BLT — Bacon, Tomato Lettuce guy?
Biden: No. LGBT — Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans.
Putin: I thought LGBT means a Lets Go Brandon Trainer. You know, a person who advices the President. Somebody who is woke at all hours thinking what to say to the president to fix up the mess.
Biden: Mess? We have a great economy, the best ever for a first term, sitting president. Our borders are secure, inflation is low, gas is cheap, the lowest crime rate ever, people demanding mandatory vaccines and booster shots, and a successful withdrawal from Afghanistan. What more can you say!
Putin: Sitting?
Biden: Yes, I’m a sitting president.
Putin: Sitting in for whom?
Biden: ... Err...
Putin: Well get up! Let’s Go Brandon!
Biden: Yes, let’s go!
Excellent read! Bookmark!
“...is another multi-trillion dollar war. ..”
1. The Dems would welcome a war right now which, they think, would keep them in power.
2, Has there ever been a war that didn’t start under a Democratic administration??
I don’t care if Russia invades Ukraine. Not even a little. It’s none of our business. No direct threat to the US.
We’re 20 TRILLION in debt. No more endless wars!!!
The Military-Industrial Complex desperately needs the US to spend ammo, missiles, bombs, planes, spare parts, etc. Because that’s how they test their latest gadgets and get more $$$.
Military leaders and Congress critters kake tons of cash when they get their board seats on Ratheon etc., after back8ng Endless Wars. It a system, a racket.
Nobody advocating for Endless Wars sends their kids. YOUR kids get their legs blown off. Not theirs.
Don’t fall for it. Again.
“Russia is not a superpower anymore.”
While Russia is not a superpower they are ranked #11 in the world in GDP. More importantly, they have the world’s largest military force and the world’s second most powerful air force and naval fleet.
Of course, I’m sure you know they have the world’s largest nuclear warhead arsenal and the means to deliver them. Don’t forget, we paid Russia big bucks to send our astronauts into space for years because we couldn’t do it ourselves.
I’m sure you understand they could destroy our country in less than an hour if it came to that. It is true that they would likely be destroyed in the process but with the largest landmass in the world, they would likely recover before we would.
So, you demean their capability at your own risk. Actually, our own risk.
“Ukraine is a European problem, not an American problem.”
Exactly. Let Germany send their kids to die.
Socialism can affored either guns or butter, but not both. European socialism is propped up by the US taking care of the guns. Pull out, and it will collapse. Which it should.
The US enables socialism. So tiny little men here can beat their chests and play army men with each other in the Senate. But never sending their own kids to the front lines.
Russia could have been a valued partner regardless of the history of Putin. I have two reasons both which entail the U.S. government dancing a public jig on the grave of the USSR. Acts sure to sting a proud people and guarantee an atmosphere of mistrust.
Talented diplomacy and leadership would not have done these things.
1). THE EXPANSION OF NATO INTO THE EASTERN BLOCK.
It was unnecessary, it was belligerent, especially in the face of the disbanding of the Warsaw Pact. It proved that the hardliners in Moscow had a valid point.
2) GW’s WAR ON TERROR.
Russia soon after 9/11 experienced terrorist attacks in their southern border regions. Most notable was the attack on and ultimately the killing of an entire Kindergarten class. GW had publicly announced that all terror groups/activities were to be opposed and attacked. Yet when Russia turned to us for assistance in their terrorist problems we flat out refused them and classified the the terrorists as freedom fighters.
“THE WAR ON TERROR FOR ME BUT NOT FOR THEE”.
Again, the Moscow hardliners were proven right.
In addition to the above consider our support for the Ukraine. There is much history in this issue. Most of it bad. However one point must ALWAYS be considered with regards to Russia.
The Ukraine is the door to the Crimea and the Crimea is the home to Sevastopol.
Sevastopol is home port to the Black Sea Fleet. The only warm water port and fleet they have.
Make NO mistake, Russia would no more give up their Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol than we would give up our Pacific Fleet at Hawaii. To even entertain such thoughts gives support to the Moscow hardliners.
Putin might well be KGB, but he is also without question a Russian patriot and U.S. policies have been running right into that patriotism and making it unforgiving.
Flame on.
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