re: Putin gives Ukrainian seperatist tanks.

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And he's done nothing to provide long-term solutions to his people

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autocrats usually don't. That doesn't mean they're fricking incompetent bozos. I'm not sure this is something he strives for and it is not a good assumption to make. What's he really after, what are really his goals?

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Russia is not in a better position than it was before he began Putin started flexing.

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That remains to be seen.

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Putin is limited by realties just as every other world leader from the Ayatollah to President Xi to David Camerson and Obama. He isn't punching above his weight.

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and autocracies ignore those realities at the expense of the people, to forge through to accomplish what they want. We build bridges, worker safety is paramount. They build bridges, with bones. Same realities, but not every leader is equally concerned with the consequences of pushing beyond their limitations. And how far Putin is willing to go may be well beyond how far other leaders are willing to go. Not everyone is playing by the same rules. I hate to continue drawing comparisons to the german conquest of Europe, but nobody really knew hitler's true motivations either (even though he outlined it in fricking print) They thought they could appease him, but you cannot appease someone who wants everything. What does putin want?

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frick Putin.

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I can certainly support that sentiment.


everyone said Churchill was a nut as he spent two decades warning about a resurgent Germany. Chamberlain thought Hitler was bozo out of his league, until he met with him and was alpha'd into conceding the annexation of Austria and parts of Czechoslavakia. There is no historical precedence that suggests putin will pull back of his own accord and I can certainly promise you that the United States won't do jack shite about it. Economic sanctions sure, which is fricking stupid. Trade amongst the superpowers is what keeps peace.

Anyway, this has the potential to be a real mess, and I certainly doubt putin is peacocking on a global stage and then settling back down.