General Discussion

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)

22. Yeltsin designated Putin as his successor. That's the only reason Putin was able to take power.

Sun Jun 14, 2015, 03:45 AM

Jun 2015

If we'd treated Russia with full respect and dignity after 1991, Yeltsin would never have done that. Putin emerged because the US insisted on humiliating post-Soviet Russia rather than doing what we should have and giving the new government a clean slate and a fresh start.

The West made the same mistake with post-Soviet Russia that the victors in the 1914-1918 war(especially France and England, who refused to listen to Woodrow Wilson's desperate warnings on the subject at Versailles) made with Weimar Germany. Both times, the "winners" stopped a vanquished nation from becoming a stable, prosperous democracy solely out of vindictive spite-and it was even less justifiable the second time, because the West itself had never been harmed in any significant way by the Soviet bloc.

We refused to learn from history.

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Here's what I'd really like to hear a presidential candidate say about "keeping Americans safe" [View all] Ken Burch Jun 2015 OP

We are past the days of labeling countries as "enemies" or "threats"? Nye Bevan Jun 2015 #1

Maybe if we weren't always threatening and dictating marym625 Jun 2015 #3

Simply nations. PatrickforO Jun 2015 #13

It's perfect less one thing marym625 Jun 2015 #2

You're right about that threat. Thanks. n/t Ken Burch Jun 2015 #4

No, thank you. seriously. eom. marym625 Jun 2015 #5

Hadn't heard about the Louisville incident. Damn. Ken Burch Jun 2015 #6

It was posted by Judi Lynn right before your post marym625 Jun 2015 #9

Those are beautiful ideas. but sadoldgirl Jun 2015 #7

It is an uphill struggle. Ken Burch Jun 2015 #8

"We are past the days when a Hitler could emerge...past the days when a Stalin Snobblevitch Jun 2015 #10

True. We will never be past the unthinkable; human history proves it over and over again. n/t susanna Jun 2015 #17

Agree. The next Stalin may well be named Scott Walker. Scuba Jun 2015 #38

I highly doubt Walker would ever come close to what Stalin did. Snobblevitch Jun 2015 #40

I would vote for you if you were running for President. SaranchaIsWaiting Jun 2015 #11

You are on a roll today Kalidurga Jun 2015 #12

I like your post... SoapBox Jun 2015 #14

Never happen. joshcryer Jun 2015 #15

"To not stand powerful in that position is a loser approach. " < By starting losing wars? After all jtuck004 Jun 2015 #16

Our police are more dangerous than terrorists. joshcryer Jun 2015 #18

Agreed on that. Ken Burch Jun 2015 #21

Not disagreeing, but I think our bank$ter/donors are more dangerous than the police. The jtuck004 Jun 2015 #23

That was a travesty. joshcryer Jun 2015 #26

They did miscalculate, but the bank$ter/donors knew exactly what they were doing, and began a theft jtuck004 Jun 2015 #31

I think F&F was the target all along. joshcryer Jun 2015 #34

To call ourselves "the world's only superpower" is arrogant and internationally toxic. Ken Burch Jun 2015 #19

It is not an exaggeration or arrogant. joshcryer Jun 2015 #20

Yeltsin designated Putin as his successor. That's the only reason Putin was able to take power. Ken Burch Jun 2015 #22

When on earth did Yeltsin designate Putin as his successor? joshcryer Jun 2015 #24

Here you go: Ken Burch Jun 2015 #28

I do think he has support. joshcryer Jun 2015 #30

Indeed they have. Ken Burch Jun 2015 #33

I agree. Stevepol Jun 2015 #29

Careful how you add all that up. That GDP used to be spread among a lot more people than jtuck004 Jun 2015 #25

It is true GDP was more spread out. joshcryer Jun 2015 #27

I didn't think you did - what I meant was that I don't think we are the superpower jtuck004 Jun 2015 #32

Let's put it this way: joshcryer Jun 2015 #35

Oh yeah. A few weeks back there was a cardinal on tv, being interviewed about jtuck004 Jun 2015 #37

The world no longer needs superpowers. Ken Burch Jun 2015 #36

I'll buy dat! Dems to Win Jun 2015 #39