>>51600
I don't either, but I think a lot of those in the political realm start to meme and think too much in one or the other. Russia forgot fundamentals a slightly softer hand and maintaining influence with her neighbors might have lost a lot less blood and treasure. EU/West forgot that moralfaging and sanctions aren't going to stop a country with as much resources and a somewhat functional defense industrial base as Russia. Though honestly I should've just started with that.

>>51643
Largely agree, though:
>Or that Ukraine can offer great amount of foodstuff, or big ports, or any other economic assets
>But all just circumstances that make this particular situation unique. And all just rationalizations. In it's core it's this abstract process above.
I'd argue that abstraction is too much and in fact things like economic assets and a large Russian population (and a significant population of a very closely related ethic group) do matter more than rationalizations for pure power politics and are very much at the heart of paranoia and security in the calculus of Russia.

>>51642
The interview was... what I expected. I did think Tucker, in his reaction to it, was spot in pointing out that Putin talks like someone who savors everyword but it is a rambling mess.

>>51645
Happy Lunar New Year!

and now, back into being a silent tor lurker once more. Just had a couple of things I wanted to say.