Jamie Watson4 said:China is the ultimate letdown here, especially considering they were one of the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum. They just can't claim neutrality...
I suspect that isn't quite the case; it seems to be limited to the United Kingdom, the USA, and Russia. I find myself in agreement with that sentiment.
gentlerider7 said:The real question is, who’s actually losing their mind here and who’s just out here intentionally fueling the fire? It’s all just part of the psychological warfare, isn't it?
The media outlets are relentlessly fueling the panic, constantly slapping headlines about nuclear war onto every front page they can find.
I find it quite difficult to believe that Putin would actually resort to nuclear weapons; in my estimation, it’s nothing more than a calculated bluff designed to deter NATO from considering any potential military intervention in Ukraine.
analogbear70 said:I’ve maintained from the start that a wiser approach was needed to prevent this unfortunate war by the Russian aggressor. You can say whatever you want, but that is the reality. I sincerely hope I won't be sitting here in a month writing about how a nuclear war could have been avoided.
Oh, I am quite certain you won't be writing about a nuclear war.
It is rather disheartening to see how things have escalated, but it seems clear now that Ukraine must commit to liberating its entire territory—from the Donbas and Luhansk all the way to Crimea—regardless of how long that process might take.
This is a lesson the Russians really ought to take to heart—all those threats involving nuclear weapons and the sheer horrors being inflicted in Ukraine, not to mention the rest.
Melissa Rivera5 said:That’s really the million-dollar question, though. Like, what happens if Putler just decides it’s easier to say, "Hey, I actually really love your land, so it belongs to Russia now. Either hand it over or I’ll just nuke you"? Maybe he won't pull that on NATO members, but what about Ukraine? Or Mongolia? Mexico? Just a whole bunch of other countries?
What if some idiot on a submarine decides it's way simpler to ask for forgiveness than permission?
They won't need to worry about Mexico; they'll likely be greeted with nothing but flowers.
In my humble opinion, their chain of command is actually more rigid than ours here in the States; even for a minor tactical maneuver, whether it’s an advance or a retreat, they seem to have to check in with the White House first.
I have this nagging suspicion that Americans are practically itching for Russia to make one fatal misstep—perhaps an attack on a NATO member—just so they can unleash a full-scale conventional airstrike. It feels as though there’s a silent consensus among the nuclear powers to avoid the brinkmanship of atomic weapons and simply go all out with conventional force instead.
I am quite uncertain how Europe will react to this decline in standards, though it seems Russ doesn't particularly care what they think; either Alaska remains silent or simply endures it.
My personal theory is that Qatar might sell their resources to Asia at a lower rate, then pivot to supply Europe at a slightly higher premium; meanwhile, the Russians could focus on selling to Asia, allowing Europe to eventually strengthen its ties with Ukraine and permanently sideline Russia from the equation.
It is truly unfortunate how the Russian people have become so conditioned to view themselves as perpetual victims, even among those with higher education. One can only wonder what kind of history they are being taught in their schools; perhaps they are led to believe that Joseph Stalin was justified when he orchestrated the slaughter of millions of Russians.
It is entirely possible that those transport vehicles have been outfitted with some rather lethal weaponry, or perhaps they are simply intended for evacuating the wounded. Then again, they could be carrying infantrymen equipped with Javelins, ready to rain hellfire on anything in their path.