Consider all the money Putin is spending on this war. I don't know the total so far, or what the total will be in the end, but it's clearly a great deal of money.
What if Putin had chosen instead to spend all this money building schools and hospitals in Ukraine, as a gift of friendship to his neighbor? Such a move would have helped undermine Ukrainian fears of Russia, which are the reason they want to join NATO. Putin would still have Europe as his most important customer. He wouldn't have to worry about coups and unrest at home in Russia. His personal reputation and that of Russia would be improving instead of tanking.
Same amount of money. Much different outcome.
What's going to happen instead is that Putin is going to lose and be humiliated. Even if he defeats the Ukrainian army and occupies all of Ukraine, that's just the next battlefield. The Ukrainians will bleed the Russian occupiers and bleed their budgets, and force them to eventually give up and go home. Just like what happened in Afghanistan to the Brits, Russians, and Americans.
Were we duped in to thinking that Putin is a clever strategist? What's clever about this war in terms of Putin's own self interest?? All the war is accomplishing is to expand NATO, unite the West against Putin's Russia like never before, lose Putin's biggest customer, and cement for a century to come Ukrainian national identity.
Speaking of strategy....
Consider all the money Putin is spending on this war. I don't know the total so far, or what the total will be in the end, but it's clearly a great deal of money.
What if Putin had chosen instead to spend all this money building schools and hospitals in Ukraine, as a gift of friendship to his neighbor? Such a move would have helped undermine Ukrainian fears of Russia, which are the reason they want to join NATO. Putin would still have Europe as his most important customer. He wouldn't have to worry about coups and unrest at home in Russia. His personal reputation and that of Russia would be improving instead of tanking.
Same amount of money. Much different outcome.
What's going to happen instead is that Putin is going to lose and be humiliated. Even if he defeats the Ukrainian army and occupies all of Ukraine, that's just the next battlefield. The Ukrainians will bleed the Russian occupiers and bleed their budgets, and force them to eventually give up and go home. Just like what happened in Afghanistan to the Brits, Russians, and Americans.
Were we duped in to thinking that Putin is a clever strategist? What's clever about this war in terms of Putin's own self interest?? All the war is accomplishing is to expand NATO, unite the West against Putin's Russia like never before, lose Putin's biggest customer, and cement for a century to come Ukrainian national identity.
Excellent analysis Dr. Bryen.
Never underestimate Joe Biden’s ability to fuck things up. Now he’s going to war until the last Ukrainian is killed.
The Ukrainian's have decided to fight the Russian invaders. It's their choice to make.