[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doly', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') think the battle cry for November is" You can fix this city. Vote Republican in every race"

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doly', '
').... delusional enough to believe that American cities can be fixed relatively easily, and that they can be fixed by voting, and that Republicans are capable of fixing anything, you might as well believe all three impossible things.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Doly', '
').... delusional enough to believe that American cities can be fixed relatively easily, and that they can be fixed by voting, and that Republicans are capable of fixing anything, you might as well believe all three impossible things.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', 'Y')ou have messed that up having my quote after your comment.
I'll leave it up to you to fix it or not.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', 'Y')ou have messed that up having my quote after your comment.
I'll leave it up to you to fix it or not.

[Newfie]

Not many more people involved.

Just be glad we don’t go the way of Malthusia.

[AdamB]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'N')ot many more people involved.

Just be glad we don’t go the way of Malthusia.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'N')ot many more people involved.

Just be glad we don’t go the way of Malthusia.

[vtsnowedin]

By 2030 Putin will be just 77 and will probably invading Alaska to rejoin it to Mother Russia.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('vtsnowedin', 'B')y 2030 Putin will be just 77 and will probably invading Alaska to rejoin it to Mother Russia.

[vtsnowedin]

We are temporarily being led by senile incompetents. I expect we will get over that in a few years. After that Putin and his successors will have a hard time of it and might lose a lot of territory or at least the control of it to American corporations if not the USA nation as a whole. Our industrial and technological superiority will grind them to dust if they choose to challenge us.
Sad really as if they should chose to be a good neighbor in the community of nations we and every one else would let them be and enjoy the vodka imports.

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'A')fter Putin reconquers Ukraine, Georgia, Poland, Moldavia, Bulgaria, Romania and all the STAN countries in his effort to recreate the Soviet Union, I wouldn't put it past him to invade Alaska to try to recreate the Czar's old empire.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR11', ' ')Putin's actions are clear as day. He's already gotten everything materially worthwhile from E. Ukraine, now he's getting the demographically valuable kids and women.

So my hunch... No invasion of Kiev, yet continuous border surges to sap Ukraine of any semblance of normalcy it might have. More open invites and encouragement to have the working age, Russian speaking men, join their families now in Russia. They already have Russian passports, so why linger once wife and kids have safely fled the zone.

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'j')ust announce Crimea and eastern Ukraine are now part of Russia.

[vtsnowedin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('AgentR11', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'j')ust announce Crimea and eastern Ukraine are now part of Russia.

[AgentR11]

I just think that assumed objective is all cost and no value. So far, everything Putin has taken during his reign has brought in value. The nearest UA object of value might be Mykolaiv but that's way far West and South of their current positions. Quite a reach I think. Might as well talk about sacking Lviy if they're going to go that deep.

[Newfie]

But Putins objective could be very different.

MAYBE what he wants to do is drive a wedge into NATO/EU and encourage greater German-Russian alliance.

Biden/Harris are a mess, Boris in trouble. Merkel gone and new Chancellor.

German nukes going down, where will energy come from? USA, Mid-East, or Russia? Which seems the more stable partner. EU has an islamic immigration problem, right wing may look to Putin favorably. If you live in Germany who do your want you energy supplier to be? Who seems more stable?

Germany has been quiet. Maybe all Putin wants to do is shake things up in EU, strengthen the right. Look how the left is fairing in USA.

I think Putin thinks way ahead, works the long game. Maybe that is what he is after here. To weaken trust within the EU and sow discord. Planting seeds.

[Plantagenet]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Newfie', 'I') think Putin thinks way ahead, works the long game. Maybe that is what he is after here. To weaken trust within the EU and sow discord. Planting seeds.

[AgentR11]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Plantagenet', 'H')istory says the cost will be very minimal.
Look at what happened after Putin invaded Crimea in 2014. Minimal sanctions is what happened.
Same thing after his proxies seized eastern Ukraine. More minimal sanctions.
Why should Putin fear seizing more of Ukraine now?

[Newfie]

It is curious that a week has gone by waiting for the attack. Successful attacks are often swift.

It is curiouser that we claim to know Russian Generals have been given orders to attack. Our intelligence is so good we are privy to battle orders?

Recall the WMD hoax.

France and USA say there will be a summit with Putin, if no attack.

Putin says talk of a summit is premature.

My sense is Putin holds all the cards and is working media to disgrace the West. He is reveling in our incompetence. He won’t invade as long as we are doing his work for him.

Will he invade eventually? Maybe. I lean not. Ukraine now exists at his pleasure, it is now his useful bargaining chip. Why give that up?