Posted on 05/19/2024 2:05:49 PM PDT by Mariner
“Seriously, where is it written that a nation can supply military equipment to one side of an armed conflict without violating neutrality?”
Russia provided arms, aircraft, and personnel to North Korea, Vietnam to use against American forces.
In short, that ship sailed a long time ago.
Because it’s out of touch with reality. Putin has very limited territorial ambitions. Nostalgia toward the Soviet Union is as far as Putin’s feelings about it goes.
These are all BS arguments not rooted in Russia's actual policies, stated goals, and most importantly capabilities and limitations (militarily / economically / politically).
Russia doesn't even have the (((ability))) to do the type of things these people claim. It is funny how the same folks that want to argue how Russia is a threat and on a conquest to rebuild the Soviet Union, attacking others if we don't stop them in Ukraine, are the same folks that argue Russia is bogged down and being defeated by Ukraine. They have it both ways, i.e. whatever is convenient for their argument in the moment.
Our government bureaucracy surly still thinks in terms of a “Soviet” era threat and in fact before I retired in 2021 you'd still have some folks making typos and referring to Russia as the Soviet Union, etc. Some of these guys are blockheads from a long-long time ago and they live in the past. To some degree, their insistence on Russia being this threat has created a self-fulfilling prophesy.
However, the real problem is simply that Russia has no political (lobbying etc), economic (little trade) and media leverage (actually censorship) in the West. So, unlike China which is far-far worse in every respect (a single party communist regime that actually does make dissidents disappear, does oppress religion...etc) and we treat them ENTIRELY different. Militarily and economically weak post Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union, and a primary competitor for control of the worlds oil and gas production, Russia has come into our sights, i.e. Iraq, Syria, Libya, Venezuela. All oil and gas producers, all aligned or even formal allies of Russia, all nations we invaded, attacked and disposed of a government or sponsored coups in.
It is precisely because Russia is weak in conventional military terms, only marginally a near-peer threat, that we treat them without any respect and violate their sphere of influence, and cheat/lie/disregard/withdraw from treaties and promises made.
[MeganC #7] Seriously, where is it written that Russia gets to start a war against anyone and those people don’t get to hit back at Russia?[woodpusher #39] Seriously, where is it written that a nation can supply military equipment to one side of an armed conflict without violating neutrality?
[MeganC #61] Russia provided arms, aircraft, and personnel to North Korea, Vietnam to use against American forces.
Ukraine has refrained from shooting at Russian territory until recently for some strange reason. Perhaps it had to do with escalating from an SMO to a full-scale war.
The United States is violating neutrality every day and Russia, at any time, could simply declare the United States to be a party to the conflict. They don't for the same reason the United States didn't during the Vietnam or Korean conflicts. We did not want that war.
While Russia provided assistance to North Korea and Vietnam, that did not involve using any weapon to attack United States territory. Had the North Koreans or Vietnam been shooting at Washington, D.C. it would have gone differently. Starting WW3 is probably not a good idea.
“Perhaps it had to do with escalating from an SMO to a full-scale war.”
Perhaps Russia needs to experience the receiving end of their SMO.
Read Red6’s reply on this thread at post 63. That’s a pretty good analysis of how things are.
Perhaps Russia needs to experience the receiving end of their SMO.
Whatever escalation Ukraine may try, Russia can do better. It is just inviting greater destruction of Ukraine. The simple fact is that Ukraine does not have the military capability to defeat Russia.
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