U.S. increasingly concerned over Russian troop build up at Ukraine border

Once again a European borderland area is being put at risk of military conflict. Once again that borderland region and even the globe are at risk of escalating conflict because competing empires claim that area belongs under their control. Once again the rival empires will claim at some point in history that borderland area was rightfully theirs.

Each of the rival empires will claim they're involved only to protect their respective peoples. While the 1% profiting from any military conflict but living in either empire's protected area far away from the conflict watch their bank accounts grow even larger. Same as it ever was. (David Byrne)

Once again a European borderland area is being put at risk of military conflict. Once again that borderland region and even the globe are at risk of escalating conflict because competing empires claim that area belongs under their control. Once again the rival empires will claim at some point in history that borderland area was rightfully theirs.

Each of the rival empires will claim they're involved only to protect their respective peoples. While the 1% profiting from any military conflict but living in either empire's protected area far away from the conflict watch their bank accounts grow even larger. Same as it ever was. (David Byrne)

So is your "solution" to just turn a blind eye to the Russians and let them over run Ukraine? In the name of "peace". That worked so well for Poland. Yeah "peace in out time" until the time ran out a year later. Weakness and naivety are the foundation of genocide.

Putin ups the provocations in Eastern Europe....Xi ups the provocations with Taiwan....Kim threatens more missile launches....

Its not a coincidence - the autocrats are testing the Repubs and the Trump supporters....is their partisan hate so great they will side with them against the Biden administration and their own government?

Given events on Jan 6th, it seems they think the answer is yes...and they may be right...

Repubs and the Trump supporters....is their partisan hate so great they will side with them against the Biden administration and their own government?

If you go by comments made on this forum, I would say the Trump Republicans and their fellow global supporters will readily side with the Russia/China/Iran axis because far rightists favor authoritarianism over democracy. The US far right have become tools of their media.

So is your "solution"

I offered no 'solution', instead expressed a frustration about the loop we're stuck on. However, I am opposed to almost all wars, including those fought over minor territorial disputes. And am especially opposed to wars fought to take control of another state's resources.

Ukraine has nothing to gain by initiating anything around there, except stability of the borders and the status quo.

Russia and the separatists have everything to gain by taking over a large chunk of eastern Ukraine, with a land bridge to Crimea, even if they say the troops massed there are only for 'exercises'. LOL. Despite their denials, it is pretty plain to see what they did with Crimea, and what they plan to do now.

There is an old Chinese proverb that says if you do not want people to think you are a thief, don't adjust your hat in a pear orchard, and don't tie your shoelaces in a strawberry field. If you do, you are either stupid, or asking for trouble.

For an idea of the scale of the Russian army involvement in eastern Ukraine, seen from the Ukraine side, look at these figures. Over 2,000 armored vehicles and 35,000 troops. (This does not include forces assembling in Crimea and elsewhere along Ukraine's borders.)

https://twitter.com/mhmck/status/1379635770907095041/photo/1

Seems like 2014 all over again. Democrat in the White House, and a Russian government willing to take what they want.

https://www.georgetownjournalofinternationalaffairs.org/online-edition/forget-the-troop-buildup-what-the-next-invasion-of-ukraine-might-look-like

The big difference is Russia will be sanctioned by the American POTUS again. Joe kisses no fanny. As for Putin, if he wanted to assault Ukraine he shoulda done it while his sputnik Donald Trump orbited him and held his evil reign in the USA.

starpunk

The big difference is Russia will be sanctioned by the American POTUS again. 

Russia was sanctioned all the time. Wrongly, in my opinion, but the claim that Trump lifted any sanctions is simply misinformed. Actually, the opposite is the true. Trump, misguidedly gave lethal arms to the Ukraine regime, while Obama only gave blankets.

The regime's assets abroad should be frozen/confiscated. Diplomats sent back home, trade tariffs increased and so on.

Putin desperately needs a war/conflict to distract rising tensions back home. He tends to get his way.

nandakandamanda

Ukraine has nothing to gain by initiating anything around there, except stability of the borders and the status quo.

Wrong. The Ukraine regime is warmongering for a purpose... they want to hide behind NATO and get EU membership, while instigating this war. And the neolibs in power in the US, Germany, and France , they might get it. Disheartening.

Note that the whole Maidan astroturf was a Western funded intelligence program; read up on those "tech camps" and who funded them. But Don Lemon will not tell you that, will he.

Another interesting question might be, who's funding pro-Putin sentiment on thousands of internet sites?

Zaphod: "they want to hide behind NATO and get EU membership, while instigating this war."

NATO would not be willing to give them membership until the situation has stabilized. It is in Ukraine's interest to look and act peaceful. Instigating anything would conversely cause NATO to back off.

The article deliberately omits the fact that Ukrainian Army regularly bombards Donetsk and other cities of Donbass with artillery and mortar fire, almost daily killing innocent people, and Ukrainian regime forces moved additional units to the frontline for a possible offensive.

@nandakandamanda

Ukraine has nothing to gain by initiating anything around there

Not correct. Ukraine regime desperately needs a good deflection from its catastrophic situation in the country, war is a perfect excuse for all failures. Plus constant pressure from hordes of rabid neo-nazis who demand "victory". And more important, Ukraine desperately wants to prevent Russians and Europeans from finishing the Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline, with this pipeline complete Ukraine will lose its status as a gas transit country and will lose huge money. Stoking tensions, staging provocations and even war - Ukraine is ready for everything, just like a junkie who needs a fix.

@Toasted Heretic

Another interesting question might be, who's funding pro-Putin sentiment on thousands of internet sites?

There is even more interesting question - who's funding anti-Russian hysteria on thousands of internet sites?

Are we talking EU vs russ here?

;A national officer of security

vs democracy 21st Christean

well more than any believe so far over 20 century did

Russia increasingly concerned over the US troop build up all over the freaking world..