Aseahawkfan wrote:I have to say that I'm honestly very happy with the way the world has handled this situation. If Putin doesn't set off nukes, this really could signal a change for the world, a positive change. So many people are seeing the negatives of this, but I'm seeing way more positive myself. The world doesn't want this war, not even China seems to want it. It seems only Putin and his backers want it. Even most Russians don't seem to want it. The Western nations don't want it. It seems like the world is sending up a signal that are really tired of men like Putin ruining the world for everyone.
I agree. The Russians gave the western world an issue to unite around, and its almost certainly going to result in negative consequences for them as countries in NATO that have been very cool to the alliance by not wanting to contribute their fair share of funding and troops have suddenly realized the threat the organization was created to address some 75 years ago. IMO the reason why China is so luke warm to the Russian invasion is that they fear a more united western world that could pose problems for them in the future.
Aseahawkfan wrote:I don't think I've seen the Russians so actively standing against Putin in my life. Even some of his news stations are rebelling. His soldiers seem to be unmotivated to make war. He is resorting to bombing from a distance because his soldiers don't like the up close fighting against a force as determined to resist as the Ukrainians.
I think a more positive outcome may occur worldwide than we think. If Putin falls or is at least greatly reduced in power, he may be the last of the Russian strongmen as regular Russians and the business people of Russia realize it doesn't do anything for Russia to pursue empire building. They make less money and accomplish nothing useful.
People don't like empire building any longer. They are tired of it and the type of leaders it produces.
We'll see how it goes long-term, but this may be a huge change in the world and not in the negative way. It may be a very positive change. The last kick of the old style Russian dictators.
In today's environment, it is much more difficult for the Russians/Soviets to control the flow of information to their people than it was in the last half of the 20th century. That's why I'm an advocate of sanctions, as the longer this goes on, the more pressure it is going to put on the Russian people to address the problem themselves.