What exactly is Ukraine trying to defend?

[doubtingthomas]

The short answer to what the Ukrainians are trying to defend:

Sovereignty.

But it is the same earth.

And Putin's paranoia in this situation is the most frightening thing in the short term.

Isn't the US guilty of the same thing?

[doubtingthomas]

It is scary when you think about it.

Listen to this by Vindman. This is the video I mentioned.

Alexander Vindman: The U.S. Is at Great Risk of Ending Up in This War | Amanpour and Company

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySQX9HLnYwU

It is becoming more likely.

[doubtingthomas]

If preventing nuclear war is really your biggest concern I'd suggest stamping out Russian aggression now is a better approach than if they get into direct conflict with a NATO ally (specifically Romania would be the next logical target).

I don't see the point of NATO. The US doesn't need it.

[MeDotOrg]

The short answer to what the Ukrainians are trying to defend:

Sovereignty.

But it is the same earth.

I'm not sure how you are defining 'earth'. As a piece of land, or the planet? Ukraine is not claiming sovereignty over Russia's 'earth'. Russia has their sovereignty. If I may use Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes' maxim: "Your freedom to swing your arm while walking down the street ends where the other man's nose begins." Russian and Ukrainian sovereignty stop at their respective borders.

And Putin's paranoia in this situation is the most frightening thing in the short term.

Isn't the US guilty of the same thing?
[/quote]
What? Invading the second largest country in Europe? To be clear, I think Putin has become increasingly isolated, and his decision to invade was a gross miscalculation based in no small part on the fact that he IS isolated and paranoid.

[MeDotOrg]

But it is the same earth.

I'm not sure how you are defining 'earth'. As a piece of land, or the planet? Ukraine is not claiming sovereignty over Russia's 'earth'. Russia has their sovereignty. If I may use Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes' maxim: "Your freedom to swing your arm while walking down the street ends where the other man's nose begins." Russian and Ukrainian sovereignty stop at their respective borders.

And Putin's paranoia in this situation is the most frightening thing in the short term.

Isn't the US guilty of the same thing?

What? Invading the second largest country in Europe? To be clear, I think Putin has become increasingly isolated, and his decision to invade was a gross miscalculation based in no small part on the fact that he IS isolated and paranoid.

[ajax18]

But what if you have to sacrifice every advantage you currently have to save lives presently and that decision winds up costing more lives in the long run.

That's kind of what the world just did with COVID over the past two years.

[K Graham]

But what if you have to sacrifice every advantage you currently have to save lives presently and that decision winds up costing more lives in the long run.

That's kind of what the world just did with COVID over the past two years.

Oh really? Because you lost your privilege to tread into private property and spread a deadly virus unmitigated means you had to "sacrifice every advantage you currently have"? You didn't have any issues with lockdowns when they were actually implemented under Donald J. Trump.

You're demonstrating why America no longer gets to claim to be freedom fighters who understand what liberty actually is. Ukraine has now taken that title from us because our country is full of over privileged dweebs who whine about lost liberties because they think they have special rights when they don't.

[Doctor Steuss]

If preventing nuclear war is really your biggest concern I'd suggest stamping out Russian aggression now is a better approach than if they get into direct conflict with a NATO ally (specifically Romania would be the next logical target).

I don't see the point of NATO. The US doesn't need it.

Enlightened self-interest.

[Kishkumen]

Um, Putin said he does not acknowledge the existence of Ukraine. Guy can't be trusted AT ALL.

All those cease fires to evacuate civilians from Ukrainian cities were violated.

The guy is a total weasel and a tyrant.

[Kishkumen]

I don't see the point of NATO. The US doesn't need it.

An aggressive Russia that invades sovereign states is the point. If I were a neighbor of Russia, I would be clamoring to get into NATO like yesterday. It is not as though not having NATO is a protection for these states. Putin does not want NATO because he wants to be able to act unimpeded to realize his imperial dreams.