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Alexei Navalny has died

reuters.com

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Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#721

Post by lawlessone »

ethanbond wrote: post #655
stcroixx wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Europe deciding to depend on Russia for their energy and not focusing on defense spending is the unbelievable part to me, but they've been doing this for quite some time now. They walked right into it. Russia is doing what they've always done and always will do.

The strategy of economic integration as a way to reduce military tension has worked very well in many other instances. It doesn't seem like an obviously insane thing to have tried.

>The strategy of economic integration as a way to reduce military tension has worked very well in many other instances.

It mostly worked within in the EU because you needed meaningfully adopt certain standards to join the market.

Russia didn't have to do any of that and by the time more people started to understand the problem developing they already had leverage.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#722

Post by throw-the-towel »

BrandoElFollito wrote: post #605
sumedh wrote: post #36

His death was certain the moment he went back to Russia. He should have stayed back in some European country and continued the fight.

Yes. And now he is dead and will be forgotten in a week. As I mentioned earlier - does anyone remember the guy who flew over Belarus and had his plane redirected to the capital, and he was seized there. He also was a protester, now forgotten. I do not even remember his name and never heard of him since then.

That guy was forced to co-operate with the regime and to abandon his SO, arrested together with him.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#723

Post by SEJeff »

merpkz wrote: post #41

So in latest news, last opposition figure in Russia dies together with any hope for regime change while Russia's war effort is starting to get some traction with it's overwhelming man power and Ukraine is forced to cede more territory all while west is busy either with it's in-fighting or comparing each others superior GDP and how Russia will crumble just any day now (TM). Man, are we in for a ride next decade in Eur…

Navalty had some pretty scary things to say about Ukraine as well. To summarize: He thought there are no differences between Ukranian people and Russian people, he thinks that Crimea is rightfully Russia's (finder's keepers!), and he thinks it would be nice for Belarus and Ukraine to just be absorbed by Russia and become part of Russia again.

He was only against the war in Ukraine when it became obvious it was not going to be a three day one and done operation.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#724

Post by wolverine876 »

KingOfCoders wrote: post #93

The (small) upside of all this missery, death and pain is Europe will lose some territory but gain it's own military security after decades of living from the US strategy alignment. Countries like Poland will no longer buy US weapons but increase European defense spending - they fear just like Ukraine that US congress just turns around and will stop delivering parts for F-35s in a conflict [0]. The US lost all it's t…

> Europe will lose some territory but gain it's own military security after decades of living from the US strategy alignment.

Why would that be the outcome? Why wouldn't it result in European countries wanting more US involvement? Who wouldn't want the most powerful country in the world on their side, as their ally?

Also, I strongly disagree with the idea that separately, the US and Europe are somehow stronger. Separately, countries end up in conflict - Europe's own history shows it especially, and that's one of the primary, intentional reasons for NATO and the EU. Together they are far more powerful - NATO is far more powerful than any country alone, including the US.

The EU - which for all its flaws is, if you step back and look from an historical perspective, arguably the greatest international organization in history - still lacks effective, unified international relations. Decisions require unanimity, which is hard for a small organization, and now they have dozens of members. Kissinger famously said (iirc), 'if I have to call Europe, who do I call?' They don't yet have the political structure and institutions to conduct international relations as whole.

Finally, power in international relations ultimately flows from wealth and population. If China continues to grow, it could have an economy twice the size of the EU's (or US's) within decades, and India has potential for similar growth. Together, the US and EU offer a much stronger balance.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#725

Post by wrs »

ethanbond wrote: post #655
stcroixx wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Europe deciding to depend on Russia for their energy and not focusing on defense spending is the unbelievable part to me, but they've been doing this for quite some time now. They walked right into it. Russia is doing what they've always done and always will do.

The strategy of economic integration as a way to reduce military tension has worked very well in many other instances. It doesn't seem like an obviously insane thing to have tried.

Well, it works OK as long as the countries involved don’t get taken over by a demagogue, dictator, or whatever the Brexit movement was. In other words, rationality and cooperation go out the window. Which turns out to be a pretty common failure mode according to 21st century evidence.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#726

Post by dralley »

ivan_gammel wrote: post #486
stcroixx wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Europe deciding to depend on Russia for their energy and not focusing on defense spending is the unbelievable part to me, but they've been doing this for quite some time now. They walked right into it. Russia is doing what they've always done and always will do.

It was reasonable not to see Russia as enemy. It was well integrated into European trade and some political structures (PACE, NATO-Russia council etc) and there were even talks about visa-free travel between Russia and EU. What went wrong was the glacial speed of integration, letting the nationalist sentiment and disappointment in West grow. Post-WWII Europe was pacified through a political union between Germany and…

It was not reasonable after 2014. Nordstream 2 was after 2014.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#727

Post by plufz »

stcroixx wrote: post #474
merpkz wrote: post #41

So in latest news, last opposition figure in Russia dies together with any hope for regime change while Russia's war effort is starting to get some traction with it's overwhelming man power and Ukraine is forced to cede more territory all while west is busy either with it's in-fighting or comparing each others superior GDP and how Russia will crumble just any day now (TM). Man, are we in for a ride next decade in Eur…

Europe deciding to depend on Russia for their energy and not focusing on defense spending is the unbelievable part to me, but they've been doing this for quite some time now. They walked right into it. Russia is doing what they've always done and always will do.

Even though that is troublesome I think the absolute biggest issue was the West “helping” liberalize the Russian economy. I.e. giving away huge amounts of the Russian states resources to corrupt oligarchs with great help from London banks. It really set the stage for Putin in a big way.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#728

Post by RajT88 »

kulikalov wrote: post #477
hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #453

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I abandoned everything there and got out as soon as I could make any money. I wish every person capable of critical thinking just leave this dreadful place and let it descend to the middle ages. I don't begrudge you for doing that, as I would have done (and basically did) the same. But that also highlights how a lot of these places get more fucked up over time. The same thing is happening/has happened in the US. Ba…

Parts of population always did and always will be falling behind other parts. Humanity must ensure that an individual has the way to realize their potential. Freedom to raise and freedom to fall. The internet changed everything. The information flowing freely and allowing critical thinkers to get out of a swamp they found themselves in. At least this gives everyone a chance to see. The other thing is immigration. You…

> there are great places like Kazakhstan that are available though.

It's a very niice.

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#729

Post by christkv »

ethanbond wrote: post #655
stcroixx wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Europe deciding to depend on Russia for their energy and not focusing on defense spending is the unbelievable part to me, but they've been doing this for quite some time now. They walked right into it. Russia is doing what they've always done and always will do.

The strategy of economic integration as a way to reduce military tension has worked very well in many other instances. It doesn't seem like an obviously insane thing to have tried.

I don’t think there is proof for that at all. It’s more likely due to the countries all being democracies

Re: Alexei Navalny has died

#730

Post by SEJeff »

ako wrote: post #712
stcroixx wrote: post #474

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Europe deciding to depend on Russia for their energy and not focusing on defense spending is the unbelievable part to me, but they've been doing this for quite some time now. They walked right into it. Russia is doing what they've always done and always will do.

Isnt the US depending on china for production just as much as Europe is depending on Russia for gas.

The US imports more goods from Mexico than China, but we do import a lot of stuff from China. It is clear from both sides that is problematic. They've been exporting less AND we have been moving supply chains to import less from them.

It is quite problematic as it appears the US and China are slow crawling to a direct confrontation.

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