Ukraine mega thread

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by CRedskinsRule

There isn't a button that Putin has a finger on. Russia has a defense complex, similar to the US and they are not going to launch nukes over Ukraine any more than the US would. Fact is, Biden was scared and inept early on, and Putin took that weakness for what weakness always is in the geopolitical realm - an opening.

A strong response (my opinion stealth bombers taking out that 40 mile column of tanks) would have blunted Putin's aggression, and as long as we stayed out of attacking Russia proper, the world would have rallied behind US leadership (again, drawing on the Kuwait parallel)

Rule 1 of international order should be - you cannot invade a non-aggressive sovereign country

I think you’re making the mistake of assuming Putin is a rational actor. He’s sending in conscripts with little logistical support. These aren’t the 2nd Rangers. He’s using his own as cannon fodder.

I’m as morally appalled as you are and I too want to see something done. But as long as Russia is being this ineffective there’s wisdom in letting Ukraine be the ones to give their lives grinding up the Russian war machine while NATO retains a position of strength and poise. Maintaining that readiness with no worse strategic position while Russia weakens itself points to an eye on the long game.

So far we can’t say the decision to supply Ukraine is leading to failure. If this does indeed lead to WW3 we can’t lose it, playing the long game is prudent.