Questions 47

Questions 47

So, Europe is reverting to form with historic animosities and ambition emerging in mindless violence and destruction. I wonder if the Ottomans will strike back.

So can we agree that economic sanctions against peripheral criminal citizens do not deter national military aggression? Interestingly, several European states are reluctant to be too severe because there might be negative impact on some free economies.

One economic lever against the Russians is the price of oil. Driving down the Russians' main product will hurt them. Simply increasing the oil production by the Saudis would be a tremendous help. The Saudis will do that because they have some loyalty to the free West, right?

And, apparently, in the face of obvious evil resulting in murder and chaos, the free West will dither. This is not a function of freedom, it is a function of leadership and strength.

Think of the leaders in the free West; does any one of them inspire confidence?

Democracies historically have been of no threat to their neighbors. So, what is it that Putin hopes to achieve here? Preventing an expansion of NATO seems a Pyrrhic victory. There is some natural resource value but wars usually are not economic positive, even when plunder is included. (There are some incredible exceptions.)

Who exactly was Macron speaking for when he went to Putin?

Was Trump's harassing of the NATO countries any more effective in driving home the need for NATO solidarity than the invasion of Ukraine?

Will the anti-Americanism in Europe recede now that the awareness of real evil in the world has reemerged?

The 'optics' here are just terrible yet the Chinese, who are very sensitive to optics, supports Putin. Why?

Trump said that the sanctions against Putin were worthless and Putin's next step was virtually unopposed and 'smart.' The press has said this shows Trump was pro-Putin. Is this true or just a smear and, if a smear, will it work?