I’m curious how you ever found sympathy in your heart for Putin. Yes, he inherited a mess, and he sees himself as Russia’s savior. But, still?
I see Putin in the lineage of Soviet/Tzarist authoritarians, apparently the only form of government that Russians can handle, with an exceptional brief foray into kleptocracy.
Ukraine is aiming toward a Western-style democracy. This is not an easy road as there’s plenty of Soviet-style corruption, but to abandon it to Russia would be not only dishonorable, but bad geopolitics.
I never said that I had sympathy for Putin but I don't mind your drawing the implication.
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown."
No one in such a position can afford to be a nice guy.
"All great men are bad men," said Palmerston.
No, Russia doesn't seem to be able to escape its grim fate of authoritarianism. But we could have been smarter. Please go back & read my other Ukraine posts. The US treated Russia very badly in the early 90s. There was a critical mass of Russian liberals who we let down by supporting corruption. In one of my posts I link to an article: The Harvard Boys Do Russia. It's devastating.
Lots of good points here. We can support a country even if they are not perfect. We do have to admire the bravery of many Ukrainian men who are fighting on the front but we don't have to idolize Ukraine.
As for Putin - he is evil and his not being an anti-semite gets him only a few points.
I don't buy this Ukraine being a red line for Putin or Russia as neither Ukraine nor anyone in the West had or has any desire to invade Ukraine. The basic establishment case now is to appease and when that doesn't work, appease more.
Had Putin not invaded Ukraine it is pretty clear that threats here and there would have got concessions from Biden that he might not even get after this war is over (whenever that may be).
I’m curious how you ever found sympathy in your heart for Putin. Yes, he inherited a mess, and he sees himself as Russia’s savior. But, still?
I see Putin in the lineage of Soviet/Tzarist authoritarians, apparently the only form of government that Russians can handle, with an exceptional brief foray into kleptocracy.
Ukraine is aiming toward a Western-style democracy. This is not an easy road as there’s plenty of Soviet-style corruption, but to abandon it to Russia would be not only dishonorable, but bad geopolitics.
I never said that I had sympathy for Putin but I don't mind your drawing the implication.
"Heavy is the head that wears the crown."
No one in such a position can afford to be a nice guy.
"All great men are bad men," said Palmerston.
No, Russia doesn't seem to be able to escape its grim fate of authoritarianism. But we could have been smarter. Please go back & read my other Ukraine posts. The US treated Russia very badly in the early 90s. There was a critical mass of Russian liberals who we let down by supporting corruption. In one of my posts I link to an article: The Harvard Boys Do Russia. It's devastating.
I agree about abandoning Ukraine.
Lots of good points here. We can support a country even if they are not perfect. We do have to admire the bravery of many Ukrainian men who are fighting on the front but we don't have to idolize Ukraine.
As for Putin - he is evil and his not being an anti-semite gets him only a few points.
I don't buy this Ukraine being a red line for Putin or Russia as neither Ukraine nor anyone in the West had or has any desire to invade Ukraine. The basic establishment case now is to appease and when that doesn't work, appease more.
Had Putin not invaded Ukraine it is pretty clear that threats here and there would have got concessions from Biden that he might not even get after this war is over (whenever that may be).
Am I 1 of 100? In any event, to my mind support for Ukraine isn’t specific enough. What US enactment in do you support? Is there a limit?