"The 1980's are calling to ask for their foreign policy back."

Cracks emerge between Beijing and Moscow as two Chinese banks restrict lending

What happens if Russia isn't simply pushed back out of Ukraine? What if they are launching missiles from Russian territory into Ukraine and the only way to stop them is to bomb inside Russia's borders?

You'd think so, but how did that war you declared with Iran go after you downed their civilian airliner?

That's a good question. One I'm not entirely sure how to answer. I would presume, and I'm certainly no expert, that we would have to maintain air superiority and have adequate missile defense systems.

I was mistaken. The tweet clearly said it was at anchor in Yuzhne, not in international waters.

Russia has a lot of military assets, it's quite possible that in a situation where they refuse to stop the only way to stop them is strikes inside Russia, and at that point nuclear war becomes a whole lot more likely.

In '91, we did push into Iraq, but not far. Just far enough to stop the threat. Now, that becomes more difficult when you consider a cruise missile may have a 1,500 mile range. How far is "far enough" without being "to far" is for people far smarter than I am.

Iraq was not Russia. The instant NATO projects any force into Russia itself is when things could very easily spiral out of control.

Things could very easily spiral out of control at any given moment in human history. I don't disagree with you.

Hi, welcome to 2001-2003 America, where the biggest, dumbest Republicans were beating the war drum to invade two countries.

Speaking of which, the ISS crew are reporting that Dayton's erection in reaction to these events can be seen from orbit.

After the US offer to evacuate him, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy declined, stating that he needed anti-tank ammunition “not a ride.”

https://apnews.com/article/russia-u...son-business-08f569df695831ee467979527ea2e241

All I've to say to the person running the official Ukrainian Twitter account, if you can manage to keep your sense of humor while people you know and love are in fear for their very lives:

FCC probes media and telecom sector for Russia ownership ties

No, because that's the current atmosphere and one I had hoped they would never have to get used to. It's what they are hearing on the news and from their peers.

It sounds like you have more faith in Putin, Biden, Johnson et al than I do, however. For every time a "proportionate response" has brought a conflict to a standstill there are countless times it has merely become a game of tit for tat.

Was invading Ukraine proportionate to proposed NATO membership?

That's the problem with brinkmanship, accidentally step over the brink and it's a lot harder to step back.

Iraq could not respond meaningfully to Western aggression other than to resist, half a bridge in allied territory does not fight back or retaliate.

Neither example is relevant.

Russia can respond and have massive forces already in play. They can project force over the continent (a continent you are helpfully remote from btw) and mass shooting wars are not necessarily anywhere near as clean or structured as we would like.

Engage and we are guaranteeing massive destruction and chaos in Ukraine and probably beyond. That may not go nuclear but are you confident enough in that assessment to risk the consequences?

Personally I believe we are reaching a hard line in how far NATO can expand east and it's time to secure that border and accept the new status quo.

^NATO's bylaws prohibit them from admitting anyone currently involved in a border dispute.

There must be more detail to it, because several NATO states have ongoing border disputes of some kind, including a bunch between the U.S. and Canada.

Most children are not stupid and do have an ability to comprehend international events. That hardly means parents are panicky. It means parents aren’t sheltering their children. Which, in my opinion, they should not be doing. My parents did and I was so very il-prepared to be an adult on my own it took at least a decade to figure it out. Hell, I still get in trouble at work for being impulsive (Oh, btw, I’m taking a vacation day tomorrow) and running my mouth (I’ve had to take a communications class every year for the last 3 years).

Ukrainians arm to defend their country against invaders.

Americans arm to protect themselves against other Americans and their own government.

That's still a distinction I'm trying to make. Justified or not, weren't those invasions punitive rather than to occupy?

Iraq was punitive for humiliating W’s dad 10 years earlier.