Is War A Valid Option To Deal With Putin?

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Wow, another Anti-Russia and Anti-Putin thread.

Yes, those tend to happy when people violate international law.

So then where are all the anti-US threads?

[Argentarino]

I would argue against. The best thing to do is to deter Putin by ensuring that Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic Republics, and any other targets of Putin's ambitions are well-equipped to deal with a situation like this. This can be done by providing weapons, nonlethal equipment, and investments to said countries so as to make it much more harder for Putin to get away with these kinds of actions.

[Myrensis]

I would argue against. The best thing to do is to deter Putin by ensuring that Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic Republics, and any other targets of Putin's ambitions are well-equipped to deal with a situation like this. This can be done by providing weapons, nonlethal equipment, and investments to said countries so as to make it much more harder for Putin to get away with these kinds of actions.

Poland and the Baltics are safe, unless we're going to assume that Putin is in fact a cartoon villain who is willing to flip a coin between 'Restored Russian Empire' and 'WWIII and total devastation of all Russia.'

There is no wiggle room for the West regarding NATO members, they either act, or dissolve the alliance and welcome their new Russian overlords.

[Lyttenburg]

I would argue against. The best thing to do is to deter Putin by ensuring that Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic Republics, and any other targets of Putin's ambitions are well-equipped to deal with a situation like this. This can be done by providing weapons, nonlethal equipment, and investments to said countries so as to make it much more harder for Putin to get away with these kinds of actions.

Who will cash the bill?

Also, just out of curiosity, Argentarino, do you have a slightest idea about the current state of the Ukrainian economy?

[Costa Fierro]

Only if he decides to invade Ukraine openly or one of the Baltic states. Other than those scenarios, no.

[United Marxist Nations]

Only if he decides to invade Ukraine openly or one of the Baltic states. Other than those scenarios, no.

On the Baltic states, yeah, but war should be a no-no unless NATO is under threat.

[Lyttenburg]

We all know Russian President Putin is growing out of hand.

Define "growing out of hand". Putin is not a vassal (sorry, "ally") of the West. He is a president of the independent nation and has HIS nation interests as his primary objective. Or you one of those fine people advocating Pax Americana imperialism and World Order?

Something has to be done, since economic sanctions aren't effective since they were issued against Russia.

You have to ask all those fine people who thought that issuing them in the first place would accomplish anything. I mean, who was delusional enough to imagine, that economic sactions might force Putin to abandon Crimea or allow the Ukrainian Army and National Guard Battalions to steamroll Novorossiya?

Should war be brought forth? Or is there yet another option?

I'm asking every Westerner taking part in this discussion - are you ready to DIE for the Ukraine?

[Vetalia]

I'm asking every Westerner taking part in this discussion - are you ready to DIE for the Ukraine?

Of course not...and a lot of the attackers are going to die regardless of whether the war goes nuclear. Russia's not a pushover like, say Iraq or Afghanistan or any other countries the US and its allies have attacked in recent years and has the capability to defend itself and hit back.

[Pagan Hungary]

There is no genuine justification for a war with Russia, it may be evident that they're supporting Novorussian rebels but they have done nothing to warrant a large-scale war.

[Dejanic]

Not war, no, but we need to continue with the sanctions and try and cut as much trade as possible with Russia; Putin and his government is an enemy, there's no two ways to put it.

Whilst I'd like to see change hit Russia, it really seems as if the Putin and his "United Russia" party is entrenched into the nation, hopefully one day the Russian people will free themselves.

[Genivaria]

No sadly it's not.

[United Marxist Nations]

No sadly it's not.

Because two of the strongest powers going to war is such a good thing.

[Cyrisnia]

No sadly it's not.

Because two of the strongest powers going to war is such a good thing.

Pfffffffffft.
http://i.imgur.com/5XwtPFe.png

[Soldati Senza Confini]

Because two of the strongest powers going to war is such a good thing.

Pfffffffffft.
http://i.imgur.com/5XwtPFe.png

Is it bad I laughed and felt bad for Russiaball at the same time?

[Lyttenburg]

Not war, no, but we need to continue with the sanctions and try and cut as much trade as possible with Russia; Putin and his government is an enemy, there's no two ways to put it.

Define "We". USA already has rather negligible trade with Russia. For EU it would be rather bad to severe trade with Russia, practically - not an option.

Whilst I'd like to see change hit Russia, it really seems as if the Putin and his "United Russia" party is entrenched into the nation, hopefully one day the Russian people will free themselves.

It never stops to amaze me how narrowminded blood-thirstines comes hand in hand with such naivity not only among the common Westerners but even among their political elites. Yeah, sure - let's sanction Russia and "hope" that suddenly this would result in pro-american democrats gaining power!

[Neoconstantius]

Oh, but it is.

Given the extremely low turn out of the elections, I highly doubt that the Crimeans "embrace" Russian rule. Furthermore, the polling that you point to is likely unrepresentative due to both the ultra-high Russian nationalism that is being exacerbated by the conflict (previous polls show much lower support for annexation, even from just a year previously), and the fact that the areas polled are disproportionally ethnic Russian, even by Crimean standards.

Compared to the overall Russian ethnic population of Crimea (approx. 57%), the 3 cities polled, Simferopol, Sevastopol, and Kerch, are within 20%. Hardly call that disproportionate.

[Neoconstantius]

Hah, no way would China stand behind NATO. Hell, half of NATO won't even stand behind NATO.

Who said they would? They would fight their own war

China and Russia fighting a war anytime soon is a ridiculous notion.

[Blazedtown]

Not yet. If he were to be utterly stupid enough to attack a NATO member, then we would be be forced to fight.

[Threlizdun]

Of course not

[Trygg]

Well shit, nothing else has stopped this guy and his Napoleon-complex so far. I mean, if he keeps going the way he seems to be headed, Europe is going to drop on him like ton of bricks.

[Arumdaum]

is having a bunch of people die a valid option to stick it in putin's face?

lol

[United Marxist Nations]

Well shit, nothing else has stopped this guy and his Napoleon-complex so far. I mean, if he keeps going the way he seems to be headed, Europe is going to drop on him like ton of bricks.

*sigh* This isn't about one guy being a jerk, this is about a nation fearing the West. Russian history is defined by repeated invasion from the West, so Russia adopted a policy of keeping a buffer between itself and the West. The reason Russia is lashing out is because , these days, that buffer is wearing pretty thin.

[Republic of Coldwater]

Unless you are the USA, EU or China, good luck fighting with Putin as he has the third largest military in the world and can easily destroy many countries. Furthermore, war causes many issues that Putin can blame on the invaders, which will only makes things harder. Instead, diplomacy and trade can result in a less messy and easier way of dealing with the issue. Nixon met with Mao Ze Dong, who was a threat to the US, but through trade and diplomacy, China eventually liberalized their economy and is far less of a military threat than in the Cold War (We kinda became their military threat).

[Kalifati Arab shqiptar]

Well shit, nothing else has stopped this guy and his Napoleon-complex so far. I mean, if he keeps going the way he seems to be headed, Europe is going to drop on him like ton of bricks.

*sigh* This isn't about one guy being a jerk, this is about a nation fearing the West. Russian history is defined by repeated invasion from the West, so Russia adopted a policy of keeping a buffer between itself and the West. The reason Russia is lashing out is because , these days, that buffer is wearing pretty thin.

Europe needs another 1848, Russia included.

[United Marxist Nations]

Unless you are the USA, EU or China, good luck fighting with Putin as he has the third largest military in the world and can easily destroy many countries. Furthermore, war causes many issues that Putin can blame on the invaders, which will only makes things harder. Instead, diplomacy and trade can result in a less messy and easier way of dealing with the issue. Nixon met with Mao Ze Dong, who was a threat to the US, but through trade and diplomacy, China eventually liberalized their economy and is far less of a military threat than in the Cold War (We kinda became their military threat).

*Mao Tse-Tung or Mao Zedong, your spelling is oddly phallic.