"More generally, a slow divorce between Russia and the West is quietly underway.
Sanctions apart, individuals, companies and governments are already taking steps to disengage: repatriating profits, cancelling orders, suspending bilateral co-operation and readjusting plans for the future."
-BBC News.
Good. Let both the West and Russia disengage from these entanglements. Putin does not want American or Western-style pursuit of happiness. He wants Russia to be distinctively Russian. I'm all for that. He wants Russians elsewhere, like in Ukraine, perhaps in my condo, to be part of Greater Rus. Not down with that. If he insists on the Russians in eastern Europe--Ukraine, Transnistria, non-NATO countries, the U.S. and West are already going to give him that if he's willing to put up with sanctions. He's not going to get anything without sanctions. You can't invade another country, just can't do it. I'd tell him he can have Lithuania too, just to piss off Roger Cohen, accompanied by the necessary sanctions, of course.
Might we similarly disengage from China? China does not invade, passively or actively so it would be simpler. As with Russia, we do not share the same "values" with China. Just phase out that "partnership," too. We should end our military alliances with Taiwan and Japan. If China invades Taiwan, we are obligated to go to war with China. Nice, huh? America will not disengage from China because of $$...Unless China invades someone. China, go take those islands from Japan or do what Putin's doing in Ukraine. I'm half-serious about the last, dead serious about the rest. We should say Farewell to China, too.
Sanctions apart, individuals, companies and governments are already taking steps to disengage: repatriating profits, cancelling orders, suspending bilateral co-operation and readjusting plans for the future."
-BBC News.
Good. Let both the West and Russia disengage from these entanglements. Putin does not want American or Western-style pursuit of happiness. He wants Russia to be distinctively Russian. I'm all for that. He wants Russians elsewhere, like in Ukraine, perhaps in my condo, to be part of Greater Rus. Not down with that. If he insists on the Russians in eastern Europe--Ukraine, Transnistria, non-NATO countries, the U.S. and West are already going to give him that if he's willing to put up with sanctions. He's not going to get anything without sanctions. You can't invade another country, just can't do it. I'd tell him he can have Lithuania too, just to piss off Roger Cohen, accompanied by the necessary sanctions, of course.
Might we similarly disengage from China? China does not invade, passively or actively so it would be simpler. As with Russia, we do not share the same "values" with China. Just phase out that "partnership," too. We should end our military alliances with Taiwan and Japan. If China invades Taiwan, we are obligated to go to war with China. Nice, huh? America will not disengage from China because of $$...Unless China invades someone. China, go take those islands from Japan or do what Putin's doing in Ukraine. I'm half-serious about the last, dead serious about the rest. We should say Farewell to China, too.
