"The law is still the law, and we must follow it whether we like it or not." ... unless you are a rogue regime that wants to use chemical weapons?
Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
21–30 of 264 posts
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#22How much evidence do we in fact have that the rebels gassed their own people in a false-flag operation? I had heard it was a possibility, Putin seems to think it's all but certain, but I haven't studied the issue in depth.
It's a pretty common tactic. IIRC, the Nazis allegedly shelled one of their towns and used it as an excuse to invade Poland. The Soviets were rumored to have done the same with Finland.
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#23How much evidence do we in fact have that the rebels gassed their own people in a false-flag operation? I had heard it was a possibility, Putin seems to think it's all but certain, but I haven't studied the issue in depth.
I think the problem is that there isn't much evidence either way. The Obama administration thinks it was Assad, as that fits their model of the conflict, where Putin thinks it was the rebels, as it fits his model.
I'm of the opinion that you shouldn't go to war when the only reasoning behind it is evidence that you're fitting to your model.
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#24How is this relevant to HN?
The logic is that if the submitter is interested in it and also reads HN, then it's relevant to HN. It's a nice circular relationship.
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#25I can't say I disagree with a lot of what he says. But I doubt he honestly believes in all of this. This rationalization just happens to coincide with his (and Russia's) interests. I think he'd do better to stay silent and let me come to this conclusion on my own instead of feeling dirty for having him agree with me.
Take it as an opportunity to separate ideas from persons. You may agree with an idea even if you dislike the person proposing it (and the other way around, of course).
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#26How is this relevant to HN?
It sets the tone of world affairs. If things went slightly worse in the last few days, there could have been WWIII. I think "hey, we've backed off a bit from dying in a nuclear hellfire" is somewhat relevant. :)
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#27Great closing paragraph: My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to s…
"we must not forget that God created us equal."
As long as you're not gay.
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#28Putin (or his representatives) knows his audience. This piece eschews the normal alpha bravado that I would expect from Putin in favor of a coherent argument in favor of restraint. I found myself not merely nodding along, but inspired, and I hope that we can at least agree with him on this.
It is alarming that military intervention in internal conflicts in foreign countries has become commonplace for the United States. Is it in America’s long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan “you’re either with us or against us.”
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#29Here's a good read regarding the Syria conflict and how Russia and other world powers are involved:
http://www.reddit.com/r/TrueAskReddit/comments/1lw8yg/why_do...
Re: Putin: A Plea for Caution From Russia
#30Great closing paragraph: My working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust. I appreciate this. I carefully studied his address to the nation on Tuesday. And I would rather disagree with a case he made on American exceptionalism, stating that the United States’ policy is “what makes America different. It’s what makes us exceptional.” It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to s…
Yeah, the statement is all well and good, but I'm no fan of being lectured about the spread of dangerous ideas by a man who thinks homosexuality is contagious and whose power was mostly gained by family ties and rank in the Kremlin pre-collapse.