But would mean Western countries seeing the strategic weaknesses of globalisation?

Or are the likes of Musk now too big for countries to control?

For question one: I don't see mass mobilisation like the first or second world war being possible now in western countries.

As for elites and the super rich. They usually simply get richer somehow, although a lot of countries could get rid of whoever they please - on the quiet if they have to.

Red and Blue Army!

You work in it. Those were your words a few posts back and is why you are so knowledgeable about the future of our security and lack of privacy.

I despair at the lack of reality when I read some comments here.

People seem to want to forget a few indisputable facts.

1) Appeasement doesn't work with tyrants like Putin.
2) Russia, and especially Putin, cannot be trusted.
3) Russia, and especially Putin, only respect strength.
4) Nato is solely a defensive organisation. It does not possess a mandate, or a structure, which permits large scale offensive action.
5) Russia is the aggressor in this war. No amount of propaganda, or sugar coating, can deny that. We have all seen it with our own eyes.
6) Russia does possess nuclear weapons.

Complaining that the west has adopted a poor strategy is not only a waste of time and effort when it's the strategy we did adopt, it remains no more than an assertion. In my own view, the strategy is not only correct, it was the only realistic one available and that any alternatives would have resulted in an even bigger catastrophe. Of course, we will never know whether that is true, or not, which is why it is so easy for critics to sit at keyboards and pontificate about "I told you so"! As soon as these mythical "elites" are raised, as self-serving bogeymen determined to exploit everything, I get a sinking feeling of "here we go again"!

We need to maintain our resolve, accept it's going to be a long-drawn-out, painful and costly war with consequences stretching far into the future. Those who wish to bring Russia back into the supply chain asap are missing the point. All that would do is resource their next adventure. Russia must remain a pariah until Putin is long gone, and we face a new regime we can trust.

It may well be better to have Russia as a partner of the west, and not China, but when what seems better carries too high a cost, it stops being better.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I disagree with how Wisbech frames the positions and his resolution for war.

I'm always stuck by those who are actually physically frightened by violence themselves always seem to become remarkably bellicose when it's others who would actually be doing the fighting.

I think if you want others to throw punches then you need to be one of those willing to throw them yourself.

I noted quite early the difference in attitude between the Pentagon....actual people trained for war and the State department's Blinken.....The Pentagon being far more cautious as they are actually aware of just what the stakes are.....tens of millions could die.

It really has to be a last resort....painting a reluctance for war and a striving for peace as 'appeasement' is a dis-serve to those who die in pointless wars that could have been avoided or shortened.

There is no actual war existing between my country and Russia, those who act like there is are much more likely to enable it.

Edited by Stirlingsays (26 Apr 2022 7.52pm)

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

For the same reason that Russia sells it to them. Neither have any real alternatives available at the moment.

That won't last, though. Russia could easily stop the flow before Germany is ready to stop buying. Germany, in taking the position it has, has been really been pretty brave. Putin must be feeling quite shocked by their response.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.