What can stop Russian tanks rolling into Ukraine? | 158 comments (158 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: What can stop Russian tanks (4.00 / 2)

I'm going to assume neither Russia nor the US have the stomach for shooting at each other right now. So you might get a tense standoff after which Russia would negotiate conditions for a withdrawal.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Thu Apr 3rd, 2014 at 05:18:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What can stop Russian tanks (4.00 / 2)

So you might get a tense standoff after which Russia would negotiate conditions for a withdrawal.

Including negotiation of who withdraws.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Thu Apr 3rd, 2014 at 05:40:11 PM EST
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Re: What can stop Russian tanks (4.00 / 4)

No, I'm with Santiago here that the US probably has the ultimate upper hand militarily, but at atrocious cost and Russia really wants neither a failed state nor a smoking crater in the heart of the old Rus.

The failed state risk is an important perspective in my opinion. The US doesn't have a problem with failed states as buffer states, especially far away from the US mainland. And clearly the trigger for Russian action in Crimea has been a collapse of state power in Ukraine including things like a (short-lived, but that just adds to the perception that Ukraine does not have a functioning state) repeal of legal protections for minorities.

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 4th, 2014 at 04:56:23 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What can stop Russian tanks (4.00 / 3)

An ultimate GEO-political consideration might be that this civilization is past its peak and is heading towards a nasty overshot fast --- fundamentally because of (gasp!) energy limitations, plus global warming.

If so, things like international trade, financial markets, cultural wars, even LBGT rights, technological advances are just games to distract beta (etc) players. Russia would be then in a unique position (only Norway would compare) to be fully self-sufficient to last longer in a civilized form --- if only it won't be looted in the last minute by Western corporate-financial monsters. Preparing for the Mad Max world, ain't it fun?!

by das monde on Fri Apr 4th, 2014 at 05:18:22 AM EST
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Re: What can stop Russian tanks (none / 1)

Ain't it fantasy?

by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Fri Apr 4th, 2014 at 06:11:05 AM EST
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Re: What can stop Russian tanks (none / 0)

Ain't it fun-tastic?

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Apr 4th, 2014 at 06:22:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: What can stop Russian tanks (4.00 / 2)

I think it was a minor miracle no one "lost the head" and started shooting in Crimea - with wildly unpredictable results. The chances of the same happening with NATO troops (and Russian special forces) inserted all over Eastern Ukraine must be close to zero - whatever the armchair generals in neo-con think tanks might think in their game playing scenarios. Don't forget there are many actors on both sides who might actually want a shooting war...and the situation could very quickly spiral out of control.

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by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Thu Apr 3rd, 2014 at 06:44:01 PM EST
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What can stop Russian tanks rolling into Ukraine? | 158 comments (158 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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