Putin says that placing economic sanctions against Russia is the equivalent of making a declaration of war. Well - no. Maybe someone should explain that if Russia wants to be included in the international economy, then it has to conform to and respect international laws. The international economy is for countries that want to be members of the world, not for those who want to destroy it.
Putin says that placing economic sanctions against Russia is the equivalent of making a declaration of war. Well - no. Maybe someone should explain that if Russia wants to be included in the international economy, then it has to conform to and respect international laws. The international economy is for countries that want to be members of the world, not for those who want to destroy it.
Here is where we, the US bear responsibility for current events where ignoring "law" is relevant.
In 2003, based on what was widely viewed, EVEN AT THE TIME, as a lie, the United States of America invaded a sovereign country that we had previously supported in a war with Iran in the late 1980's. Iraq.
We actually invaded to grab Iraq's oil resources.
The televised bombing of Baghdad showed the world that illegal invasions were totally OK if you had enough power and bombs.
So, now? We reap what we sowed.
Putin, having watched the US get way with occupying Iraq's oil fields and privatising that wealth, is invading Ukraine.
Ukraine is one of THREE COUNTRIES WITH THE LARGEST DEPOSITS OF LITHIUM. The others being China and Australia.
Yep. We reap what we sow. But, most Americans either cannot make the connection for emotional reasons or were not paying enough attention to know the real truth about Iraq.
That's right, Mike S, our invasion of Irag was both illegal and shortsighted and detracts from our attempt to now occupy the moral high ground with respect to Putin.This does not mean that our Government's position is wrong now, just hypocritical. And there was little chance of igniting general nuclear war in 2003. So we have every reason to both oppose Putin and try to do better ourselves.
I'm not sure that "cannot" shouldn't be "will not". I do not understand certain components of the psyche that thirsts for war, combat, and conflict, and how that thirst is slacked.
We did not invade Iraq to grab their oil resources, they continue to sell their oil on the open market. We invaded to force regime change which we achieved with mixed results, it was never about grabbing their oil.
That's a good question, Stuart. My glib answer is, "by not invading Taiwan". And being a nation of 1,4 billion people may have something to do with it. Clearly the people of China benefit economically from China staying engaged with the world and avoiding stupid wars. And how much they yearn for personal liberty is, I think, hard to quantify.
By owning a substantial amount of US Debt? Also, Stuart, you make me curious if Biden can continue to help foster strong condemning financial sanctions against Putin for invading Ukraine, maybe China will hold off on its Taiwan ambitions. Xi is sitting back taking notes, I’m sure.
No sooner does Putin create an alliance with xi than Russia sends troops to Belarus during the Beijing olympics. is xi thinking, oh how nice of you to not invade til the games are over? No, xi is thinking that Putin thinks that Russia is the senior partner, with 1/10th the population. The honeymoon is over. Meanwhile, has it been two weeks since the invasion? That is how Russians measure time, in two week intervals. If they don’t succeed by then at a task that seemed so straightforward they will become very discouraged. They “worked like Russians” but did not succeed. There will be a big change.
Putin says that placing economic sanctions against Russia is the equivalent of making a declaration of war. Well - no. Maybe someone should explain that if Russia wants to be included in the international economy, then it has to conform to and respect international laws. The international economy is for countries that want to be members of the world, not for those who want to destroy it.
Here is where we, the US bear responsibility for current events where ignoring "law" is relevant.
In 2003, based on what was widely viewed, EVEN AT THE TIME, as a lie, the United States of America invaded a sovereign country that we had previously supported in a war with Iran in the late 1980's. Iraq.
We actually invaded to grab Iraq's oil resources.
The televised bombing of Baghdad showed the world that illegal invasions were totally OK if you had enough power and bombs.
So, now? We reap what we sowed.
Putin, having watched the US get way with occupying Iraq's oil fields and privatising that wealth, is invading Ukraine.
Ukraine is one of THREE COUNTRIES WITH THE LARGEST DEPOSITS OF LITHIUM. The others being China and Australia.
Yep. We reap what we sow. But, most Americans either cannot make the connection for emotional reasons or were not paying enough attention to know the real truth about Iraq.
Chomsky: US Push to “Reign Supreme” Stokes the Ukraine Conflict
https://truthout.org/articles/chomsky-us-push-to-reign-supreme-stokes-the-ukraine-conflict/
That's right, Mike S, our invasion of Irag was both illegal and shortsighted and detracts from our attempt to now occupy the moral high ground with respect to Putin.This does not mean that our Government's position is wrong now, just hypocritical. And there was little chance of igniting general nuclear war in 2003. So we have every reason to both oppose Putin and try to do better ourselves.
I'm not sure that "cannot" shouldn't be "will not". I do not understand certain components of the psyche that thirsts for war, combat, and conflict, and how that thirst is slacked.
Energy clearing ...
We did not invade Iraq to grab their oil resources, they continue to sell their oil on the open market. We invaded to force regime change which we achieved with mixed results, it was never about grabbing their oil.
And how does China stay in?
That's a good question, Stuart. My glib answer is, "by not invading Taiwan". And being a nation of 1,4 billion people may have something to do with it. Clearly the people of China benefit economically from China staying engaged with the world and avoiding stupid wars. And how much they yearn for personal liberty is, I think, hard to quantify.
Knowing when to hold’em and when to fold’em, more or less. Could change moment to moment
By owning a substantial amount of US Debt? Also, Stuart, you make me curious if Biden can continue to help foster strong condemning financial sanctions against Putin for invading Ukraine, maybe China will hold off on its Taiwan ambitions. Xi is sitting back taking notes, I’m sure.
No sooner does Putin create an alliance with xi than Russia sends troops to Belarus during the Beijing olympics. is xi thinking, oh how nice of you to not invade til the games are over? No, xi is thinking that Putin thinks that Russia is the senior partner, with 1/10th the population. The honeymoon is over. Meanwhile, has it been two weeks since the invasion? That is how Russians measure time, in two week intervals. If they don’t succeed by then at a task that seemed so straightforward they will become very discouraged. They “worked like Russians” but did not succeed. There will be a big change.
By holding large deposits of rare earth metals. Think solar panels, computer chips, etc. Not a lot of other options?
And he wants to go back to “normal international rules”. Is he really that stupid???
No. He really wants to control one of the world's largest Lithium deposits.
See my other comment above yours.
... other rare minerals, water and fertile soils too, from what I hear ...
Perhaps this question could be put before Putin: "Which would you rather deal with, economic sanctions, or NATO troops in Ukraine?".
Steve, what about a trio -- economic sanctions, NATO troops and more planes for Ukraine? Let's not leave it up to Putin, okay?
Well said! Thank you!