As much as I would like to see a Russia free Ukraine. I just don’t think it’s possible. Ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the scattering of the “sub-socialist republics” into independent nations and “stans” you knew someone was going to come along and cobble it back together. When the USSR fell apart it undid the work of several centuries of Czars forget soviet premiers - the CZARS!
Since Putin took power, I’ve viewed him as a new Czar. A Czar without the pomp and circumstance but a Czar, nonetheless. And no that doesn’t make him our buddy or even automatically our enemy. He just needs to be watched, countered when necessary, and cooperated with when circumstances call for it.
I think he wants to try and restore the 1914 borders. I don’t think he has a chance with Poland & Finland, the Baltic nations maybe. They need to grab Poland, Finland & Sweden and make firm alliances.
Anyway, it’s out of or sphere of influence as sad as that may be. NATO is completely obselete. With Germany self-destructing economically and soon to be dependent on Russia for energy, NATO has no rear area. (I hope this is wrong, but I read that Germany only has as many working tanks now as one WWII German armored division.) NATO is dead killed by changing world circumstances and the foolishness of its members including us. We should not tie ourselves to a corpse.
The other European nations are just a little less crazy economically then Germany. We in short have little to no leverage on the Ukraine issue. If this was actually done, it was foolish of us to encourage NATO members to talk about or actually put any SOFs or any forces into Ukraine. They do that on their own we should make it clear the mutual defense clause does not apply should Russia retaliate.
+1
“Since Putin took power, I’ve viewed him as a new Czar. A Czar without the pomp and circumstance but a Czar, nonetheless. And no that doesn’t make him our buddy or even automatically our enemy. He just needs to be watched, countered when necessary, and cooperated with when circumstances call for it.”
Well said. Putin seems to care about Russia and its future. I wish the same could be said for US politicians. This makes him someone that can be dealt with in some degree of rationality unlike the leaders most of of the EU countries who seem intent on wrecking their own nations.
Putin is not our friend but he doesn’t have to be our enemy. Pushing him into alliance with China is the most boneheaded political move since Stalin thought he could work with Hitler.
(I hope this is wrong, but I read that Germany only has as many working tanks now as one WWII German armored division.)
I’ve read the same, and from multiple sources. They’re refurbishing Leopard II tanks like there’s no tomorrow, but they’re all being sold to foreign customers.