What was supposed to be a cake walk for Putin and his thugs is turning out to be quite the opposite, so in typical thug fashion he’s threatening that if Ukraine continues to make it hard for him to abuse them he’s just gonna turn the whole place to glass. “Why do you make me hit you?”
What is rule number one? We don’t negotiate with terrorists. I get that when you bring nuclear weapons into the mix that adds another dimension, so I’m not sure what the answer is here. Do we give him what he wants just so he doesn’t blow everything up. If that’s the case he won’t stop at Ukraine.
At some point you have to make a stand and for the west this is it. Either Putin goes down or we do.
You know, I have a feeling that for many in Russia’s upper most military and political circles, there are plans being laid out for Vlad’s exit (originally, I typed “demise” but who knows?). Because it’s coming sooner or later. Putin has cemented his (and Russia’s) legacy and it’s a bad one that’s going to have LONG repercussions. I honestly don’t see someone like Putin retiring and going off into the sunset shirtless.
I would think that those in upper echelon circles are just waiting to see how things work out and very secretly planning the “afterward.”
I like to think that some smart people in the admin, state, and military are working to help Putin find an acceptable off-ramp. Something that will look like not a total loss, like territory in the eastern part already disputed and Crimea. He can say he saved the Russian minority there. Does he deserve it? No, but he needs a way to get out and may not be of the mind to find it alone. If he won’t take an off-ramp, then it raises many other issues.
I was thinking that myself and I’m sure that it’s being worked into different scenarios. However, the longer this war continues, the more that “off-ramp” becomes a brick wall and then it’s just the end.
Why does it feel like putin’s peaking early? I really can’t believe he’s willing to punch the entire world in the nose and start ww3. He looks weak and the nuke threat looks like a desperation move.
I’m not too worried about it. He’s showing increasing fear of death lately, like that long conference table to avoid Covid. He knows what it would mean. You can’t bluff with strategic nukes.
I’m more worried about shaky command and control at a lower level, some officer getting a little too excited, and the Russian system not being proof against accidental or unauthorized launch.
Treason is strictly defined in the Constitution so that it cannot be abused. Trump and the GOP deserve the highest sanction for what they have done and are continuing to do; but I didn’t think we would ever get in a hot war with an enemy again, so that they would be guilty of it.
Michael Corleone : Senator? You can have my answer now, if you like. My final offer is this: nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which I would appreciate if you would put up personally.
At some point (I don’t know what it is), there’s no going back and no more worrying about Vlad saving face.
This is why efforts to agree to reductions and to prevent the creation of more nukes is so vital. This is why the fucking orange idiot burning down the deal with Iran was so fucking maddening. When this kind of shit heats up because of insane idiots, nukes always, always make the ability to do the kind of stuff rational humans do a lot harder and more risky.
That said, it’s hard for me to believe that Putin has a large contingent riding the crazy train with him. Those fuckers on the other side of the big room from him last week looked as scared as his young conscripts in tanks must be right now.
