I do wonder if the West told Putin "you can have Crimea permanently" if he'd back down. He clearly wants a defanged puppet in Ukraine, and that's clearly not happening without significant cost.
My point is that the ethical dilemma (let some die to prevent more from dying) makes me ill.
I seem to remember a lieutenant governor of Texas saying something similar at the beginning of the pandemic. That made me ill too.
Unfortunately Putin operates from just that basis apparently. In that he doesn't mind sacrificing some Russians to secure what e sees as the long term future of Russia.
That was the case when they gave up their nukes after becoming independent in the mid 1990's. It was the case when they signed the Minsk Agreement a few years ago. That part of the equation hasn't changed.
Putin's approach hasn't changed easier. He's daring the west to do something and until he invaded we didn't.
Given how long it took to get Jaybird to actually supply enough information to discuss an argument appears to many like that's not what he wanted to do.
which is definitely his right on an internet forum, but not gonna help.
As I Keep telling you - your assumptions and your approach aren't how most of the regulars here think, and reinforcing your approach by doubling and trippling down on your approach when it doesn't work out isn't helping you any.
All of that is probably true, but I also think its looking in the wrong direction. There are many ways a fully ethnically Russian enclave could have been handed back to Russia. So far as I recall, Russia didn't pursue any of the. And other then Ukraine cutting off Crimea's water supply, there was a collective wink from the world.
Agree on china, which is why sanctions have been targeted at the oligarchs. They are being cut off from their overseas assets, and given the work they had to do to accumulate those assets its not going to go over well long term. And Putin's agreements with China will not shield them from the impacts.
Sadly I agree with you. While it is good that Russia has slowed its advance into Kyiv, they are mostly doing so to firm up the supply lines and depots they need for sustained conflict. The effectiveness of their movements out of Crimea indicates they are willing to fight a multiple front battle, and the composition of their soldiers as conscripts suggests the real pros - who are far more accurate and deadly - are yet to be deployed. No doubt they'd like to have their flag over Kyiv by now, but they clearly aren't backing down.
Which means we have to hope that the Ukrainian resistance does enough damage to bog them while the sanctions work, so that the oligarchs go into rebellion. That and the swelling internal protests he's facing might, might be his undoing.
Interesting that you call the DoD - perhaps the most conservative federal agency - "The Establishment."
That aside - the deniers who operate out of corporately funded think tanks where said corporations have an economic and profit stake in denying climate change (yes, I'm looking at you Heartland Institute) probably won't be publicly. As we've seen with cigarettes and cancer, and even oil's contribution to climate change, they are often aghast in private. This duality for a paychcek is a big part of the problem FYI.
Other deniers - the ones for whom the climate crisis doesn't fit their priors or for whom it violates their own economic policy preferences, may be more amenable.
The idea that this was easy to see and should have been expected is probably faulty.
Well, except for the fact that for months before the election Trump said openly the only way he could loose was if the election was stolen by fraud. And then as the election drew closer, he not only repeated that claim, but said he and his supporters would have to fight to keep America intact.
If DoJ is indeed following an organized crime playbook for its investigations, then the guilty plea by one of the indicted Oathkeepers yesterday may move the ball you are looking for along a bit.
It should tell climate deniers something that the last three quadrennial Defense assessments from DoD had climate change driven resource wars as major conflict types that DoD has to plan for.
Nope, still not. CRT has informed some pedagogical approaches in some university courses and some DEI trainings received by some school districts. Its not a direct named part of any public school curriculum anywhere, and even when it forms the basis of some teacher's approach, its at most a crutch from trying to simply teach critical thinking skills.
The southern border is not a crisis.
True statement. The Biden Administration has kept in place nearly all of Trump's border policies and is even defending some of them in court. Apprehensions and explusions remain up (see https://www.factcheck.org/2022/02/cotton-distorts-border-apprehension-impact/) and while COVID has complicated the process, there is no sign of the Biden administration letting up on Trump's gas pedal.
Russian sanctions were not intended to be a deterrent.
“We also want to be clear that we have no desire to be in an escalatory cycle with Russia, we intend these responses to be proportionate and tailored to the specific past activities, paths, actions that Russia has taken,” the official said.
Keystone has zero to do with American or North American energy independence. Its a bad faith talking point. At best, it aids North American oil exports, which is an entirely different concept. Keystone XL is a inland to Gulf Coast refineries and export ports project, its not intended to fuel America’s need for oil because there’s plenty of that already.
They carried flowers, and handmade signs reading "нет войне" — No to War. They tried to leave their message outside Ukraine's embassy in Moscow — and for that, they were arrested.
That's the story emerging in Russia about five children, ages 7 to 11, who went with their mothers to visit the embassy on Tuesday. Their excursion could have served as a reminder of shared humanity, even during a conflict. But police in Moscow didn't see it that way. They detained the kids and parents, putting them in a holding cell.
On “What Russian Officials Think of the Invasion of Ukraine”
I do wonder if the West told Putin "you can have Crimea permanently" if he'd back down. He clearly wants a defanged puppet in Ukraine, and that's clearly not happening without significant cost.
On “War and the Speed of History”
I seem to remember a lieutenant governor of Texas saying something similar at the beginning of the pandemic. That made me ill too.
Unfortunately Putin operates from just that basis apparently. In that he doesn't mind sacrificing some Russians to secure what e sees as the long term future of Russia.
"
That was the case when they gave up their nukes after becoming independent in the mid 1990's. It was the case when they signed the Minsk Agreement a few years ago. That part of the equation hasn't changed.
Putin's approach hasn't changed easier. He's daring the west to do something and until he invaded we didn't.
On “Wednesday Writs: Judge Jackson, Facts Be Damned Edition”
in what way?
"
Given how long it took to get Jaybird to actually supply enough information to discuss an argument appears to many like that's not what he wanted to do.
which is definitely his right on an internet forum, but not gonna help.
On “War and the Speed of History”
Kyiv.
Unless you are a Russian Partisan
On “John Eastman Privilege Filing Over January 6th: Read It For Yourself”
you forgot state level Republican Party operative coordinating with a loosing Presidential candidate to keep power illegally.
On “Wednesday Writs: Judge Jackson, Facts Be Damned Edition”
As I Keep telling you - your assumptions and your approach aren't how most of the regulars here think, and reinforcing your approach by doubling and trippling down on your approach when it doesn't work out isn't helping you any.
On “War and the Speed of History”
So you let the Crimeans have a referendum and if they want to leave they leave. Wouldn't be the first time a country split itself.
"
All of that is probably true, but I also think its looking in the wrong direction. There are many ways a fully ethnically Russian enclave could have been handed back to Russia. So far as I recall, Russia didn't pursue any of the. And other then Ukraine cutting off Crimea's water supply, there was a collective wink from the world.
"
Agree on china, which is why sanctions have been targeted at the oligarchs. They are being cut off from their overseas assets, and given the work they had to do to accumulate those assets its not going to go over well long term. And Putin's agreements with China will not shield them from the impacts.
"
Sadly I agree with you. While it is good that Russia has slowed its advance into Kyiv, they are mostly doing so to firm up the supply lines and depots they need for sustained conflict. The effectiveness of their movements out of Crimea indicates they are willing to fight a multiple front battle, and the composition of their soldiers as conscripts suggests the real pros - who are far more accurate and deadly - are yet to be deployed. No doubt they'd like to have their flag over Kyiv by now, but they clearly aren't backing down.
Which means we have to hope that the Ukrainian resistance does enough damage to bog them while the sanctions work, so that the oligarchs go into rebellion. That and the swelling internal protests he's facing might, might be his undoing.
I don't expect him to go quietly however.
"
Considering the relative collective shrug after Crimea I am not surprised.
On “The Global Climate Crisis Was A Deliberate Decision”
Interesting that you call the DoD - perhaps the most conservative federal agency - "The Establishment."
That aside - the deniers who operate out of corporately funded think tanks where said corporations have an economic and profit stake in denying climate change (yes, I'm looking at you Heartland Institute) probably won't be publicly. As we've seen with cigarettes and cancer, and even oil's contribution to climate change, they are often aghast in private. This duality for a paychcek is a big part of the problem FYI.
Other deniers - the ones for whom the climate crisis doesn't fit their priors or for whom it violates their own economic policy preferences, may be more amenable.
"
My understanding the the DoD plans for what it plans for. One of those was issued during the Trump Administration, so I don't think its prohibited.
On “War in Ukraine: Updates, Open Thread”
Very astute assessment. Plus they already left one nuclear disaster for Ukraine to deal with, what's a second (or third or forth etc).
On “John Eastman Privilege Filing Over January 6th: Read It For Yourself”
Objection your Honor, hearsay.
"
Well, except for the fact that for months before the election Trump said openly the only way he could loose was if the election was stolen by fraud. And then as the election drew closer, he not only repeated that claim, but said he and his supporters would have to fight to keep America intact.
"
If DoJ is indeed following an organized crime playbook for its investigations, then the guilty plea by one of the indicted Oathkeepers yesterday may move the ball you are looking for along a bit.
On “The Global Climate Crisis Was A Deliberate Decision”
It should tell climate deniers something that the last three quadrennial Defense assessments from DoD had climate change driven resource wars as major conflict types that DoD has to plan for.
"
I think that's accurate, and the Tribal angle is one that needs more sunshine as well.
"
And this still occupies a large swath of our expertise in my agency.
On “President Biden Wants To Use State of the Union To Change The Subject”
Nope, still not. CRT has informed some pedagogical approaches in some university courses and some DEI trainings received by some school districts. Its not a direct named part of any public school curriculum anywhere, and even when it forms the basis of some teacher's approach, its at most a crutch from trying to simply teach critical thinking skills.
True statement. The Biden Administration has kept in place nearly all of Trump's border policies and is even defending some of them in court. Apprehensions and explusions remain up (see https://www.factcheck.org/2022/02/cotton-distorts-border-apprehension-impact/) and while COVID has complicated the process, there is no sign of the Biden administration letting up on Trump's gas pedal.
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/04/15/biden-administration-sanctions-russia-for-cyber-attacks-election-interference.html
Many of us in the trenches did and still do. Most elected Democrats at the State or federal level didn't and don't.
On “The Energy Factor”
I've been saying this for a LONG time . . . .
On “War in Ukraine: Updates, Open Thread”
https://www.npr.org/2022/03/02/1083911717/russian-police-jail-kids-who-took-flowers-and-no-to-war-signs-to-ukraines-embass