“Paul pointed out that Russia’s attacks, in the recent past, have been on countries that were once part of the Soviet Union”
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This is an important observation. Just as the US exercises de facto “call the shots” rule over countries we never had actual rule over in this hemisphere since Monroe’s time, the Ukraine - Russia’s neighbor - was under direct (not de facto) Kremlin rule for 70 years.
Rand is not as big an idiot as his father, just an idiot.
“was under direct (not de facto) Kremlin rule for 70 years”
Actually, since the time of Peter the Great...except for a few interruptions when they were under the control of Poland or Lithuania.
This fact is one the neocons do not want to become common knowledge within the American people. And very few Americans could even find Ukraine on a map, much less have any knowledge of its history.
It nearly extinguishes their zeal to hate Russia for invading Ukraine. And their zeal for war.
That is the key point that most are overlooking. America has never tolerated foreign powers establishing a military presence on our borders. Try to imagine what a patriotic American President would do if a radical Mexican government tried to join the Warsaw Pact in 1978 with Russian nuclear guarantees. Nuclear war was nearly precipitated by the Russian presence in Cuba.
However it works both ways. Have no liking for Iran but for a moment picture yourself an Iranian nationalist. How would you feel that the US has turned the Persian Gulf into an American lake? The US, a foreign country, has enough firepower at your doorstep to effectively destroy your nation and at the least affect your policies? Or picture any Russian nationalist leader. You have not only witnessed the dissolution of the Russian empire but now a hostile military alliance is fortifying the lands on your borders that you once controlled.
Rand Paul could have been more politic in his comments. However Americans must come to understand that, despite neocon propaganda, American interventions in distant lands do provoke an often unfriendly response. We experienced that on 9/11, in Vietnam,Iraq and Afghanistan as well.
The oryginał colonies were was under direct (not de facto) London rule for 70 years.
Does that mean the east cost down to Florida should all belong go the UK? And the Midlands to France a d the west go Spain?