Ukraine Thread

[Kagemusha]

Virtually all of our political history mitigates against a shift into fascism. We have had our darker and harsher periods as a Republic, that cannot be denied, but our citizenry is too entrenched in their own liberties and too well armed to beget a dictatorship. Worst case with us is an aggressive single issue POTUS -- like Polk -- and those folks tend to last only one term. Are we trending a bit that direction at the moment? Perhaps, but the pendulum will swing back.

My friend. I am talking about Mr.Trump, not US as a state or nation. I personally find the comparison between the characters of Putin and Trump rather interesting. Thank the almighty that you do have checks and balances and hopefully Trump will come to understand the limits of his power.

[Gilrandir]

Russia officially recognized DPR's and LPR's passports.
https://www.unian.info/war/1784497-r...passports.html

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

It's today and Putin is a Fascist.

Just in case anyone was wondering.

[Montmorency]

Have we moved so far that we may no longer refer to Eastern-European states as "post-Cold-War" or "former Soviet"?

Cause "post-war" sure seems finished.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I'd say Post-War has now become a historical period, what with Germany having achieved political and economic hegemony over Western Europe and German comics using Hitler to make fun of Trump.

The Cold-War is still very much reverberating through our lives though, witness Russian paranoia and the recent Romania protests against graft.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I'd say Post-War has now become a historical period, what with Germany having achieved political and economic hegemony over Western Europe and German comics using Hitler to make fun of Trump.

The Cold-War is still very much reverberating through our lives though, witness Russian paranoia and the recent Romania protests against graft.

Russian paranoia predated the Cold War....predated the Tsars even. Predated Russia for that matter. It is a formative part of their psyche.

[spmetla]

Russian paranoia predated the Cold War....predated the Tsars even. Predated Russia for that matter. It is a formative part of their psyche.

Which is why their foreign policy is not all too different from what it was two hundred years ago. Keep the near abroad very close, secure 'warm' water ports in the Med, Black and Baltic Seas keep the Polish, Germans and French in check and secure hegemony over central/south asia.

[Gilrandir]

The Cold-War is still very much reverberating through our lives though, witness Russian paranoia

Not only paranoia, but the absence of elementary logics as well: they didn't (and don't) recognize DPR and LPR, but they do recognize "official documents" issued by the people they don't recognize as the ones who may issue them.

[Sarmatian]

Russian paranoia predated the Cold War....predated the Tsars even. Predated Russia for that matter. It is a formative part of their psyche.

How can Russian paranoia predates Russia?

Not only paranoia, but the absence of elementary logics as well: they didn't (and don't) recognize DPR and LPR, but they do recognize "official documents" issued by the people they don't recognize as the ones who may issue them.

Not really that weird. Because the regions are in limbo, so to speak, the ordinary people living there are hurt the most, regardless of their political affiliations or lack thereof. Anything that makes it easier for them is good.

Serbia doesn't recognize Kosovo, but recognizes a quite a lot of document issues by Kosovo government and vice versa. It's basic decency. Even if political situation makes normal relations impossible, an effort should be made to make lives slightly "more normal" for people when possible.