This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis. It was originally published at The Conversation.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1462603
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1462603
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No Cattus shall allergenically attack us!
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Should NATO join the battle? Does the West draw a line? I can’t believe I’m asking the question, but the dam and the risk to nuclear power plants…is it time?
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US is sending them cluster bombs.
Maybe not a good idea??
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I don’t think any country in the modern era has gone through so much shit to prove their mettle while the world mainly says, “Well I’m not quite sure you should join our economic or military club.”
Yes, it’s far more complicated than that, I understand. Yes, countries are helping with armaments, but I kinda feel that Ukraine is like the unlucky Ms. Nancy McKeon in a harrowing Lifetime movie scene where her character is literally being kicked in the head by her husband and there’s a crowd of people around them, yelling and no one does a fucking thing, each mistaking screaming for action.
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Cluster bombs used against enemy fortifications are not the same as cluster bombs used against civilians like the Orcs did in Kharkiv.
Whatever Reznikov wants should be given without question. Ukraine will only use cluster munitions on Ukraine’s territory in order to save the lives of Ukrainians.
The overarching crime of aggression by Russia is the fundamental issue here. Ukraine did not ask for this war.
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Very good analogy there. There are also environmental costs to this war that absolutely nobody is considering, not to mention the constant threat of nukes and escalation into something even bigger. With Climate Change breathing down our necks, now is not the time to be upping the ante.
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How do we stop Russia? Aren’t they upping the ante and won’t they keep at it?
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As is often the case, and from my point of view, the “political success” of this move will be determined by the eventual outcome.
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No, for the same reason NATO hasn’t joined already other than supplying arms and intel. To join the battle, the first thing that would have to happen would be a “wild weasel” flight of EA-18G electronic warfare jets over the border into Russia territory to take out long range SAM sites.
That’s the standard first step to establish air dominance. The European NATO members don’t have this capability; they rely on the US to do it. A direct US attack on Russian soil would be a declaration of war, leading to unknown levels of escalation. Including Putin deciding he might as well use his tactical nukes in defense of the homeland.
Biden has said he is not going to war with Russia, and I hope he sticks to that. Among all the other variables, I don’t think there is enough support in the US population for war with Russia. It’s never a good idea to go to war without popular support. It could kill our chances to hold the Presidency and take back the House in 2024.
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Thanks. I needed to be reminded of that.
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How do we stop Russia? Ukraine already did that and are about to retake Bakhmut.
Problem is that the big brain* in the bowels of the Pentagon has gamed out the possible outcomes and has predicted with a certain confidence that a collapse of the Putin regime could probably lead to some catastrophic consequences.
*Way back in the 50s Lewis Fry Richardson predicted that war, diplomacy and the weather could be predicted by “numerical process” (computers). We know that has already occurred with weather forecasting. It’s fair to assume that it is already being used for war forecasting.
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OT Here’s how you responsibly frame a headline about Donald Trump:
And now, I’m heading off to the Grand Canyon for a week with my youngest daughter, who is attending a week long training session. I’ll be doing photography.
It’s been over thirty years since I worked there. I’ll have time to exorcise some demons, which are long gone in time and place.
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Wow! Enjoy your trip, Ralph.
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I’m all for sending armaments and materiel, but this is morally wrong. Can’t believe Biden went with this.
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We could send other deadly things - and money. I feel this is a big mistake on our part.
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Photographs of the Grand Canyon?
Rimshots?
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At some point soon NATO will have to get directly involved. I believe it’s inevitable. We’ll see.
