I propose the easiest way for the West to defeat Putin and Xi. — Linkey
what are they fighting for? For censorship and repression? — Linkey
Oh, wait, another thing - opening up the possibility of a limited nuclear war makes it much more likely. — T Clark
If so, please be careful @Linkey. And welcome to the Forum.I live in Russia (please note that I support Ukraine). — Linkey
All the Russian emigrants living in my country that I've spoken to don't like what Putin did by attacking Ukraine, many were simply horrified, but then again they don't live Russia. Only once have I seen in 2014 in Helsinki two young Russian men openly in public wearing the black orange stripes of the ribbon of Saint George. Yet 2014 isn't 2022 or today.I am sure that Russians will vote in this referendum to end the war. If the war continues, Russian soldiers will be unable to fight, because they will suffer from cognitive dissonance - what are they fighting for? For censorship and repression? — Linkey
With nuclear weapons there's always strategic ambiguity: you won't really tell what you're response is and even if you tell it, it's likely that others won't believe you. And you don't want to tie your hands. Now it is likely that a nuclear exchange might well become a tit-for-tat, isn't at all sure that nuclear war would go this way. Once you have crossed the line and have used nukes, it's a whole new World: use of nuclear weapons is normal. People will adapt to it.I hope I will not violate the forum rules, if I propose the easiest way for the West to defeat Putin and Xi. First, the United States should reconsider its nuclear doctrine, and declare that the use of US nuclear weapons is possible only in the form of a symmetrical response. If Putin nukes one city, the United States would nuke one Russian city, if Putin nukes ten, the United States would nike ten, and so on. — Linkey
Yet I think there are still Russians who support the war simply fearing what will happen to Russia if the war is lost. You see, Russia isn't a normal nation-state, it still is built on an Empire. That's the real problem. Still many Russians believe Catherine the Great's words: "I have no way to defend my borders but to extend them." This pure imperialism hasn't yet died in your country. — ssu
maybe a better decision will be using this approach against the CCP instead of Putin. — Linkey
Yes, but I don't unfortunately believe it.Do you know about the democratic peace theory? — Linkey
Well, sorry, democracies seem far more weaker and undetermined than they actually are.Democratic countries unite instead of dissipating, and the people in the West must try to make the Russians know about that. — Linkey
Unfortunately those actions would only consolidate the position of the Chinese communist party and it's supporters. There would be many in the West who would see this as an imperialist attack on China and reckless warmongering.as I have suggested, the US should declare that they will build military bases on Taiwan unless a referendum is performed in PRC with a suggestion to unban youtube. I think this is really a strong idea: as far as I know, many people in China (probably most) don't like the censorship in their country and the social credit system. — Linkey
United Kingdom declared war to Finland in December 5th 1941. I assume the both countries were then democracies even back then. — ssu
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