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.
From the article, “Putin’s human rights record remains abysmal...”
How’s that?
Their military and Navy were built in the 1980s. Their Navy is a Littoral Navy at best. Their boomers are nearing the end of their lives.
The Soyuz space craft are functional, but the are the YUGOs of space travel.
Their Air Force was able to afford a dozen of their newest jets.
Their military is a bunch of conscripts.
Putin would not be able to field a football squad if Biden hadn’t screwed up the oil markets—the hard currency flowing to Russia is ALL Biden’s fault.
I am not advocating attacking Russia on its own ground But I am also not shaking in my boots over their “super power” status.
Perhaps Putin is demonstrating that he has gone the extra mile for a reasonable diplomatic solution so Biden can be blamed if/when Rusia invades.
The Hildabeast Doctrine is driving this crisis. I have a hard time understanding why NATO will collapse if it doesn’t add Ukraine. On the other hand, corrupt westerners can extract lots of $$$$ from even more corrupt Ukraine if it integrates with Europe.
They are not a superpower, but they still have a massive nuclear arsenal with a long reach...
He also tries to imprison and murder his opponents.
As if the Rats don't do that.
And Pooty’s “fear” of invasion by the West is nonsense too. There is no need to worry about “offensive” weapons near it’s borders when intercontinental nuclear missiles offer sudden destruction within 30 minutes.
(But I will say that offensive weapons should never be part of NATO agreements.)
Which has nothing to do with this conversation, straw man.
What vile democrats/leftists do here doesn’t change the wrongess of it elsewhere. And by the way, it isn’t just “Rats” who do it. Your precious GOP, Inc. enables it and secretly allows it.
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
So what moral standing does this country have anymore to get involved in wars a half a world away?
Were you around for the Cuban missile crisis?
That is an excellent presentation.
Matlock makes it clear why our policy defies history, demography and just about every other realm of reality. It’s easy to assume that our policy-makers since Bush-Cheney, have managed not to know these fundamentals. I assume they know every bit of it. So what is driving an idiotic destructive policy that is contrary to reason and our own interests and past behavior? Qui bono?
That is an excellent presentation.
Matlock makes it clear why our policy defies history, demography and just about every other realm of reality. It’s easy to assume that our policy-makers since Bush-Cheney, have managed not to know these fundamentals. I assume they know every bit of it. So what is driving an idiotic destructive policy that is contrary to reason and our own interests and past behavior? Qui bono?
“Putin would not be able to field a football squad if Biden hadn’t screwed up the oil markets—the hard currency flowing to Russia is ALL Biden’s fault.”
Biden’s screw-up does not change the facts. Whether they are conscripts or not (so is Israel and they seem to do a pretty good job). And regardless of how old their nuclear arsenal and boomers are, they have more than enough and the means to deliver them if that’s what they decided to do (scorched earth). It would only take a few.
And then we have a woke military that is more concerned with social engineering than fighting a real battle with a leader like Milley (and Biden).
As a matter of fact, our record since WWII has certainly not been anything to brag about. Let’s see: Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan to name a few. How did those turn out for us? Remember the helicopter on the top of the Siagon building escaping with our last troops with their tales between their legs? But, then again, we did pretty well against the kingdom power of Granada and the empire of Panama (Noriega).
I speak as someone who served my country in the military and now my country has made a hard left turn (along with the military) and left me. Not the other way around.
It’s funny, I actually agree with Pooties complaint about NATO. Bush promised no more expansion. And for the past 30 years, all we’ve done is expand. No one in Europe wants to deal with Ukraine.
I am not sure what the fascination is with them.
This is not in the US’s best interest.
Well put.
Actions speak louder than words. Biden and Obama/Biden have caved to Putin repeatedly.
Obama/Biden withheld lethal aid to Ukraine and did nothing on Crimea and Georgia. They withdrew our commitment to place anti-ballistic missiles in Poland and the Czech Republic. They remained in bogus arms agreements despite Russian violations. And remember Obama in 2012 being overheard assuring outgoing Russian President Medvedev that he will have “more flexibility” to deal with contentious issues like missile defense after the U.S. presidential election. Hillary's reset button turned out to be a joke.
Biden is compromised on Russia given Hunter's dealings. He approved the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and the reduction of US production of oil and gas driving global prices up, which helps Russia and Iran. Both derive most of their revenue from selling these commodities. And it is worth remembering that Russia is signatory to the JCPOA, which Biden wants to rejoin. IMO we are being conned by Biden who pretends to be tough on Russia, but his actions contradict his words.
I have no doubt that Biden is making concessions to Putin during these talks. Ukraine won't be joining NATO and the US will not interfere with Russian moves in Ukraine. These are actually the right policy positions. But the tough anti-Russian rhetoric is counterproductive.
Why hasn’t the “doomsday clock” been advanced? biden has put us closer to conflict with Putin. They advanced this phony “clock” for Trump, but it’s not moving for biden.
Joe is not qualified to use any of the words or phrases the ‘liar’ red head said...he just does not have the ability to use those words ...jmo
I'm sick and tired of ‘fairy tales and bull sh**’ provided by Hussein O. his gal pal, Val and Susan Rice.
Time for voters to stand up and make their voices heard.
Gazprom executives give money to Hunter, and Hunter gives daddy 10%. Daddy then inacts policies that benefit Gazprom and Putin, and the cycle repeats.
In fact Russia commissioned three nuclear submarines in 2021 - of Yasen M and Borei class, both run quieter at 15 knots than LA class at pier. 9 more are in work, including one fitting out and one undergoing sea trials.
There is a parity between the Russian Navy and USN in SSBNs.
The Air Force received 60 aircraft in 2021.
Professionals outnumber conscripts in the Russian military since 2015.
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