Vladimir Putin and Russia are threatening the world, not just Ukraine. Here's how NATO can respond.
NATO needs to prepare for the reality of a more aggressive Russia in the face of tensions with Ukraine. It's time to strengthen alliances.
by General Wesley Clark
'NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says Russian pressure and threats against Ukraine are the “new normal” for Europe, as Russia has massed more than 150,000 troops and is prepared to attack.
This is a new escalation, but Ukrainians have been under constant hybrid attack from Russia since 2014. The United States itself has been under growing hybrid attacks for several years, including election interference and cyberattacks. If this is indeed the new normal, and even if Russia doesn’t attack, the United States must adapt our policies – economic, diplomatic and military – to face this new reality.
The Russian military buildup has brought President Vladimir Putin clear diplomatic gains as Western leaders line up to speak with him in Moscow. Russian diplomats proclaim a willingness to negotiate, but Russian demands on NATO and Ukraine violate the precepts of international law and fundamental NATO commitments. Western offers to negotiate matters of strategic interest, like missile deployments and military exercises, have been dismissed, while Russia fishes for cracks in allied unity.
How to pressure Russia
Our positions have been made clear: There is allied unity and resolve that NATO will not give Russia a veto over its policies, including the right to consider new nations for membership, nor will it roll back its invitation to Ukraine or its military deployments in Eastern Europe.
While the West should never turn down the opportunity to communicate with Russia, it is time to stop the frantic rush to engage Moscow. The diplomatic burden must now be put on Russia in conversations at all levels, including a possible summit meeting with President Joe Biden, and in international forums like the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The message should be that Russia must de-escalate as a sign of good faith.'>>>
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnists/2022/02/21/ukraine-wesley-clark-nato-russia-invasion/6872627001/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Wes and I had been talking about the Iraq invasion of 2003, and what seemed to be Cheney's long-term goals. Wes thought Cheney (dba Bush) would invade Iran. I said, no, he wouldn't. I said Republicans are essentially cowards, and would never intentionally invade a country they thought would shoot back. I said Iraq was not a change in strategy, but a horrible miscalculation on Cheney's part. Wes gave Cheney too much credit. He thought Cheney and Rumsfeld knew what they were doing. As we all now know, they hadn't a freakin' clue. Wes didn't count on their taking such massive steps with so little think-through. It was so far from his logical mind's way of thinking, he didn't imagine they weren't also following some well thought-out strategy.
