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Shemp Howard

(889 posts)

45. There is only one thing NATO can do.

Sat Mar 1, 2014, 12:02 PM

Mar 2014

First off, here's what NATO should NOT do: mobilize its military, send arms to the Ukraine, attempt any sort of naval blockade.

Doing any of the above would be worse than just reckless. It would be both reckless and useless.

The situation in today's Ukraine is not the same in the 1938 Sudetenland. Back then the French had a huge army on Germany's western border. If the French army would have moved, Hitler would have been finished. There is no huge army on Russia's border today.

Here's the only thing NATO can do: refuse, as a group, to buy any more Russian natural gas. That will hurt the Russian bottom line. But then Europe would have to get energy elsewhere. That would be very expensive.

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Putin seeks Ukraine troop deployment (approval from Russian parliament) [View all] pampango Mar 2014 OP

When does it cross the line as being an invasion force? n/t RKP5637 Mar 2014 #1

The "old" definition was when foreign troops showed up uninvited on another country's territory. pampango Mar 2014 #6

This is big. But it is the Russians' "sphere of influence," as they used to say. reformist2 Mar 2014 #2

Pretty much because Iraq was a soft target cosmicone Mar 2014 #3

Our ass was NOT kicked in Vietnam. 7962 Mar 2014 #4

Well, lets put it this way, we lost that war. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #21

There's a common fiction. Or more. Igel Mar 2014 #36

You hit the nail on the head. TET was a disaster for the VC, but reported here as a VC victory. 7962 Mar 2014 #69

I would say that Russian military is also "only good for attacking someone who doesn't passionately pampango Mar 2014 #5

I was certainly opposed to the Vietnam War. former9thward Mar 2014 #8

60,000 dead and 200,000+ wounded without victory cosmicone Mar 2014 #10

No modern weapons? former9thward Mar 2014 #13

I think it is important to qualify what is meant by "lose".... Swede Atlanta Mar 2014 #24

One can rationalize three ways to Sunday cosmicone Mar 2014 #32

a propor analogy iamthebandfanman Mar 2014 #70

You lose a guerrilla war while frequently "winning" every battle. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #25

Our Revolutionary War was very similar Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #38

I agree with most of that. former9thward Mar 2014 #43

Lost battles bongiver Mar 2014 #50

Enjoy your stay. former9thward Mar 2014 #56

Enjoy my stay?! bongiver Mar 2014 #62

Two posts and both insults. former9thward Mar 2014 #66

Ia Drang Part 2 tabasco Mar 2014 #52

Doesn't sound like a loss to me. former9thward Mar 2014 #58

Then you don't know shit. n/t tabasco Mar 2014 #60

Devastating retort.... former9thward Mar 2014 #61

The risk here isn't the fear of conventional confrontation.... Adrahil Mar 2014 #11

Russia also has anti-ship supersonic missiles cosmicone Mar 2014 #12

Yeah.... no. Adrahil Mar 2014 #14

Not really. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #31

whats the 'we' bullshit pasto76 Mar 2014 #71

I'll bet it's Syria II in the administration... Junkdrawer Mar 2014 #7

I doubt Rice, Powers and Kerry would propose a war with Russia cosmicone Mar 2014 #9

No one in their right mind would advocate a war with Russia.... Junkdrawer Mar 2014 #20

Fortunately, we are neither a dying empire nor desperate enough cosmicone Mar 2014 #37

Cooler heads will prevail - your lips to God's ears... Junkdrawer Mar 2014 #76

But do look for a different reaction here Igel Mar 2014 #33

1939 all over again... hoosierlib Mar 2014 #15

I afraid we'll do nothing.... Adrahil Mar 2014 #18

So what do you propose? mazzarro Mar 2014 #27

Nope.... but... Adrahil Mar 2014 #29

Russia supplies all of Europe from Germany on east... Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #41

and so, he just does what he wants. Like I said, I think we'll do nothing.... Adrahil Mar 2014 #44

There is only one thing NATO can do. Shemp Howard Mar 2014 #45

Odd remark. dipsydoodle Mar 2014 #75

Or 1938 when Chamberlain proclaimed "peace in our time" for letting Germany have a part of pampango Mar 2014 #22

Seems more like Georgia/ South Ossetia in 2008... ensemble Mar 2014 #23

surprised? this is par for the course here. Warren Stupidity Mar 2014 #26

and as long as we are talking about Hilter... ensemble Mar 2014 #28

Yes, by all means, Russia is so scary they can just do whatever they want. Adrahil Mar 2014 #30

We have a lot of DUers who are actively deployed cosmicone Mar 2014 #39

No. Igel Mar 2014 #48

K&R because this is important news. And to admit to being wrong, dead wrong on this riderinthestorm Mar 2014 #16

Props for admitting you were wrong. NT Adrahil Mar 2014 #19

Neither did I, I have to admit. Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #42

Their navy is stationed there. go west young man Mar 2014 #54

I was convinced he would pscot Mar 2014 #55

Approved IDemo Mar 2014 #17

The approval was pro forma. Igel Mar 2014 #51

This will be an issue for NATO--Poland won't like this at all. TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #34

Putin wanted the Cold War back... he might have it. NT Adrahil Mar 2014 #46

I don't think he wants the Cold War back. I think he is trying to hang on TwilightGardener Mar 2014 #49

Seven years ago while visiting relatives in Latvia tavernier Mar 2014 #35

This stinks! hrmjustin Mar 2014 #40

I actually think the Crimea belongs to Russia. reformist2 Mar 2014 #47

They probably should have dealth with that.... Adrahil Mar 2014 #59

Russian upper house approves use of military force in Ukraine n2doc Mar 2014 #53

Russia needs to be made a world pariah alarimer Mar 2014 #57

Why? I have a feeling that we're not being told the whole story. reformist2 Mar 2014 #63

This is pretty much a EU vs. Russia power struggle. chrisa Mar 2014 #72

Russia Today News agrees (I know that's just awful for some to hear). another_liberal Mar 2014 #64

RT is the Fox News of Russia. chrisa Mar 2014 #73

You are no where close to accurate in that assessment. another_liberal Mar 2014 #74

Does he only need the upper house? treestar Mar 2014 #65

Yeah, just read on the BBC site that's all he needs. n/t Benton D Struckcheon Mar 2014 #68

OK, all, let's hear it for Pooty-Poot Jack Rabbit Mar 2014 #67