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Exactly. The Marshall Plan, and especially the Berlin Airlift reinforcing our commitment to rebuilding any part of Germany we controlled, was crucial in ensuring that Germany evolved into a thriving democracy post-WWII, integrated with the rest of Europe. The Marshall Plan reaped rewards far beyond the costs incurred in executing it.
Compare and contrast that to the post-Versailles treatment of Weimar Germany, and how that treatment allowed for the rise of not only Hitler but widespread right-wing revanchism in general.
I believe, and I don't have much in the way of sourcing for this although I'm sure I could find some, that had we invested both capital and attention in the 90s to a recovering Russia, we would not be where we are today.
It's no wonder to me that all these former East Bloc countries want to join NATO. They don't to get gobbled up under the Russian thumb and behind any future iron curtain.
Can this close the skies dare go both ways. Russia says a NATO aircraft engaging a Russian aircraft would be war. So if NATO flies over Ukraine, at its invitation would the Russians shoot down clearly marked and identifiable NATO aircraft?
Can this close the skies dare go both ways. Russia says a NATO aircraft engaging a Russian aircraft would be war. So if NATO flies over Ukraine, at its invitation would the Russians shoot down clearly marked and identifiable NATO aircraft?
So now the west is trying to "cancel Russia"…
The irony is deafening since Russia is trying to cancel Ukraine...by bombing it back to the dark ages.
As mentioned before, a declared "no-fly" zone would have to be established by non-NATO nations with no skin in the game.
The no fly areas would be clearly indicated and provided to Ukraine and Russia with the understanding of zero-tolerance for incursions and/or "mistakes".
Many nations capable of the mission and plenty of neutral sites to base out of.
So it is entirely possible.
... and cancelling dissent inside Russia by throwing them into jail, or assassinating them with novichok in UK and other places.
This is clearly a regime devoted to the free exchange of ideas. View attachment 662528
The irony is deafening since Russia is trying to cancel Ukraine...by bombing it back to the dark ages.
I wonder if the Aussies could play a lead role in a non-NATO no-fly zone? They have AWACS capability, which will be critical, and are a modern, well-equipped (albeit small) military. However, they could be the nucleus around which other nations could get involved.
I don't think that would work because of their close ties to NATO and the west. Australia is a close ally, and most certainly would stand with NATO.
We could try the Irish, but they'll end up fighting everybody.
Oh, hell yeah, haven't been in a good bar fight since I was stationed in Germany.Including themselves.
Then again, copious quantities of Guinness and Irish whiskey can be good for negotiations.
The Volvo is indeed a tank.
Actually, it's even more bizarre. Russian encrypted comms system "Era" was reliant on the ground cellular network. But at the same time, some RF units were given orders to destroy cellular towers in Ukraine in the first days of the invasion.My understanding is that Russian coms were reliant upon encrypted satellite phone links which have been shattered by air assault in-country, meaning the Russians are actually using civilian cell networks and the Ukrainians are using that info to target.