Always good to hear other opinions, especially when they make you think and re-evaluate your own. My response to you may have been a little harsh but it was both late at night and honest. Currently I am seeing lots of people posting and voicing opinions that state how badly the West (NATO, EU, USA etc) has handled things over the years since the last war as if that justifies in some way what Putin is doing. Invading a sovereign country is wrong, so is working to destabilise it. A grey area is providing aid to people living under a totalitarian regime. I am not an academic, I am a veteran who has lived and worked in many countries and seen what real life is like on the ground for a lot of people. I don't like war and the idea of WW3 quite frankly scares me, but I know that I would fight hard to never live under a regime that built a wall to stop me from leaving.
If you've ever wondered what it's like to be under the path of a modern military missile then wonder no more. Warning: The guy is fine (as he's seen filming at the end of the video) but some people might find the noise and explosion quite distressing.
You're absolutely right. As a know-it-all undergraduate student I remember firing off anti-Russian essays off to my lecturers. I didn't really understand why I was anti-Russian. They are bad, we're good. I never imagined however many years later I'd be taking the stance I am today. But looking deeply at the history, I change my mind on things. I agree, invading a sovereign nation is wrong. Problem is, living in anarchy (no higher authority to punish states behaving badly), there will always be opportunities to tempt states, especially great powers who's first prioirity will always be survival. It's a self help world (consider how in the pandemic states were arguing over vaccines and doing everything to make sure their country got theirs first). I don't like that it's like that, I really don't. I just view the world as it is, rather than as it ought to be, which rubs people up the wrong way, I accept. I respect that you're a veteran and you've got a very different lived experience than me. You've no doubt got many great insights. I don't like the idea of WW3 either and my argument is not so much that I want to defend Putin or I'm supporting the invasion, it's rather I could see it coming and it could have been avoided with a little more humility and pragmatism from Western decision makers.
I was with you until the last sentence. I'd die for my family and my country. I wouldn't die for an ideal.
Young Russian soldier who surrendered given food and drink, breaks down whilst having face-time with his mother. Here
Note the Russian soldier walking back with his hands in the air with two grenades in them. I think the Ukrainians said "No" ✌️
United Nations have overwhelming voted to condemn the Russian attacks. 143-5 with 35 abstentions. The 5 against were Russia, Belarus, North Korea, Eritrea and Syria. Abstentions include Bangladesh, Cuba, China, India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.
I think that’s an automatic fine from UEFA isn’t it - as would any display inside a football ground (from a Club or it’s fans) showing support for Ukraine (or Russia)?
In terms of the Russian need for security, do you think Putin will stop at the Curzon Line or do you think he believes in Marshal Tukachevsky’s vision? Serious question.
We should probably think of some sanctions for countries who don't support Ukraine. We should start with stopping foreign aid for any of the countries on that list.