Russia - threadbanned users in OP

If another country, say in the Caribbean, or even in W Europe, should have wanted to join a defense alliance with Russia at any time after WWII right up to today, do you expect the US would have let it happen?

Outside of a fiction based argument, can you honestly see that ever happening??? The big problem with Russia ( under the present management ) is that adjacent countrys fear Russia,,, they want no hand act or part of it, and thats why they joined NATO in the first place. Why would they want to join a state where 1/3 of all pregnancies end in abortion??? Seems thats the only kind of meaning full vote the women have.

You're projecting your own views onto me. I've not said Russia is good.

Maybe, but the Crimean water issues are regional. The costs of conquering the NCC are national. I can't imagine a scenario where they even come close.

As for worsening conditions in Ukraine to influence the people - it seems counter productive. History has shown that civilians are willing to ensure suffering from external sources, up to and including nightly bombing raids, whilst still backing the leadership.

As it is, Russia doesn't have to destabilise Ukraine. Biden and the US are doing that instead despite the pleas from Ukraine to stop talking up a war.

Spheres of influence!!

Some people honestly think it is 1912.

The chances are that he's not the only one either....Mihail Khodorkovsky has said that with all legal opposition now driven underground, Putin does not know how much real support he has, and is therefore afraid of actually starting a war, but when weighted against appearing weak if he does not follow through on it, he will go to war, unless a face saving scenario will emerge. He also said that in the past Putin was a man who would listen to others, or exercise some degree of caution, after 20 years in absolute power, he is convinced of his own infallibility, and is quite capable of carrying out ill judged acts. A vertb dangerous mand indeed.

Sounds like you haven't read a single thing about the Winter War and then Finland joining the Axis the resultant fallout.

The point is, Cuba doesn't have the right to choose it's own leaders in a popular revolution against a US backed tyrant. Cuba doesn't have the right to organize it's economy along communist theory, and doesn't have the right to join or be included in a military alliance that is contrary to the foreign policy goals of the US.

The price for trying? Invasion, meddling, and 60 years of the most punitive sanctions possible.

Well, afair they tried their utmost to stop Cuba doing so (edit as mentioned above), but that failed in the end.

You are murdering your own arguments with the comparisons you make between Russia's Ukraine policy and the US though.

Do you think what the US has done to Cuba, esp. in past decades was justified as part of a geopolitical strategy of some sort? From your postings I really doubt that very much. As one who likes to show us maps of all the US bases around the globe it was "Evil US Imperialism" TM right? If so how can you possibly excuse what Putin has already dished out to Ukraine and what he may do in future? Even if current tension ends up being sabre rattling it is not justified. Putin's Russia is the hawk and the imperialist in this situation.

It's a bit sad watching Irish people showing understanding for (or even praising) the likes of Putin/Russia because they just seem to hate the US govt. or US foreign policy so much, it is like they are following football teams or something (!?)

Sounds to me that you ignore the fact the the causes of 2 (or 3) world wars being stupid territorial claims all over Europe have been resolved by countries finally decide to grow up and respect territorial sovereignty.

Europe, France/Germany, Hungary/Slovakia, Italy/Australia, Denmark/Germany, Poland/Germany, Czech Republic/Germany, Italy/Germany, Belgium/France, Ireland/UK, Spain/UK, Poland Czech, Hungary/Romania, Greece/Turkey.

There is an exception to that list of countries who have grown up and decided that the cost of pursuing stupid 1000 year old territorial disputes in Europe. That country is Russia.

It is the responsibility of Ukraine to navigate it's new (relatively speaking) independence successfully. In their particular circumstances with their long history intertwined with Russia and the USSR, the location of nukes, access to the Black Sea, Crimea etc etc that means they probably need to keep the Russian bear on-side.

That is their mission if they want to maintain their borders intact as an independent country. That Russia is allegedly on their doorstep with a large militarily force suggests to me that they have failed in that respect.

That is not to say Russia is blameless.

Imagine Dev siding with the Axis powers at time when Britain was getting owned in the sea.

Seems that they do not have the right to democratic elections now either, after deposing the "Capitalists" .. The theory of communism may have been the best theory ever, but in practice, it was an open door to corruption and abuse. And thats why it failed, and is still failing even in Cuba.

He is 78 years old, I think that may be part of the reason he has spoken, perhaps he does not care what Putins thugs do to him.