There are people, experts really, who I know as students of Russia and Putin. Not so much Ukraine, but it’s a community of experts. Let’s presume they are unwitting to the true stimulus driving the war there. Overwhelmingly, they’re no fans of Putin and his origins. However, it seems that he has reasons (not making allowances or excuses) for being skeptical and untrusting of the West (U.S.). Treaties seem to have legs unless someone scuttles the agreement terms. While I’m no appeaser on this issue, we’ve invested more in other places, only to abandon “the cause” (and temporary allies) for the sake of politics, and public opinion (manipulation). Seems like this is just one more sequence that warrants a “follow the money” stance to find out if the bad guys are actually who the press says they are. I’m betting it’s a twisted tale of corruption across the political ruling class. Right here.
It seems there are still those in power who believe that we can shoulder the cost, in all its forms, of being global hegemon. I don't believe. At most, we are capable, maybe, of being Americas hegemon. We should be divesting ourselves of the far flung empire before it collapses uncontrollably, taking us down with it. But, I'm not confident that will happen. Like the British lost their empire as a direct result of WW II, we are on pace to lose ours.
Amen brother. My reading of the background tells me the same. Seems to me that Russia and 'the West' would be natural allies against the onslaught of Islam. Perhaps that is for future generations to work on....
We have for some reason reserved a special place in hell for Stalin and now Putin. Meanwhile, for whatever reason, we fought two world wars against the Germans, but accepted for some other reason that they were capable of reform. It seems to me that we just need an enemy, and the Russians are it, in terms of a state enemy. And our "leaders" going way back, never figured the Russians would turn to the Chinese, or the Iranians, for allies, if pushed hard enough. I do recall from some reading I've done, that the Russians actually wanted to apply for NATO membership after the USSR fell. We categorically denied them the opportunity.
There are people, experts really, who I know as students of Russia and Putin. Not so much Ukraine, but it’s a community of experts. Let’s presume they are unwitting to the true stimulus driving the war there. Overwhelmingly, they’re no fans of Putin and his origins. However, it seems that he has reasons (not making allowances or excuses) for being skeptical and untrusting of the West (U.S.). Treaties seem to have legs unless someone scuttles the agreement terms. While I’m no appeaser on this issue, we’ve invested more in other places, only to abandon “the cause” (and temporary allies) for the sake of politics, and public opinion (manipulation). Seems like this is just one more sequence that warrants a “follow the money” stance to find out if the bad guys are actually who the press says they are. I’m betting it’s a twisted tale of corruption across the political ruling class. Right here.
It seems there are still those in power who believe that we can shoulder the cost, in all its forms, of being global hegemon. I don't believe. At most, we are capable, maybe, of being Americas hegemon. We should be divesting ourselves of the far flung empire before it collapses uncontrollably, taking us down with it. But, I'm not confident that will happen. Like the British lost their empire as a direct result of WW II, we are on pace to lose ours.
Amen brother. My reading of the background tells me the same. Seems to me that Russia and 'the West' would be natural allies against the onslaught of Islam. Perhaps that is for future generations to work on....
We have for some reason reserved a special place in hell for Stalin and now Putin. Meanwhile, for whatever reason, we fought two world wars against the Germans, but accepted for some other reason that they were capable of reform. It seems to me that we just need an enemy, and the Russians are it, in terms of a state enemy. And our "leaders" going way back, never figured the Russians would turn to the Chinese, or the Iranians, for allies, if pushed hard enough. I do recall from some reading I've done, that the Russians actually wanted to apply for NATO membership after the USSR fell. We categorically denied them the opportunity.