To start...

Posted on: March 9, 2022 at 15:52:01 CT

I think it's presumptive to say there might be a solution when you've got a madman running Russia. In situations like this there may not be a solution until some time has gone by.

In the meantime, I think what we've done with Europe will put a clock on Putin's "special operations" in Ukraine. The sanctions will need time to knock Russia on its ass economically, but Russia is not an economic powerhouse to begin with.

Doing nothing was never an option as there's no indication that Putin would stop with Ukraine and if that were the case, you couldn't cede more territory from him to conduct further operations.

Also he cannot be allowed to trip his way continually to take over Ukraine. He won't be able to hold Ukraine and that road to that point will be vicious (and already is).

There is a real possibility that Russian military incompetence could eventually end up causing a cross border war between NATO and Russia (and whoever else decides to pick a side).

Our best hope is the Russian people say enough is enough but Russia has been downtrodden so long many people are happy just to be able to live a normal life. That normality is an illusion obviously, but I don't see Putin losing power of this.

As far as we go, we'd be wise to enforce Article 5 if Putin decides to attack a NATO ally. At that point, to me, our hands are tied.

If there is a silver lining in all of this, I'd say that we've united strongly with Europe again and NATO in the process. NATO hasn't really ever done anything but I think the cohesion will help out with other issues, i.e. China and Taiwan, Iran, North Korea and whatever else comes up down the road.

Edited by Gyro at 15:55:12 on 03/09/22