Sotos wrote:Tim Drayton wrote:Putin is a very dangerous person, in my view. It is a pity that he can get more than 50% of his people to vote for him, albeit by stifling all opposition behind the scenes. Those who stand by and shrug their shoulders or even applaud as Russia under his helm dismembers the sovereign state of Ukraine make the same mistake as those who appeased Germany under Hitler when it annexed Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia.
Putin is not a democrat and you are probably right that he is stifling all opposition behind the scenes. Then again in the USA in practice you just have two parties whose differences are only superficial and which are backed by the same kind of corporations... essentially an oligarchy, not a democracy. Which is why most Americans don't even bother to vote anymore... some thought that Obama would be different but they were disappointed. Crimea & parts of East Ukraine might be similar to Sudetenland... but if you think of it those are parts that are historically inhabited by Russians (Germans in the case of Sudetenland). The Americans have supported far worst things... like what the Jews have done to Palestine, or even worst what the Turks have done to north Cyprus... where the invader has taken territory which was NOT historically inhabited by a majority of their kind. So I am not buying the bullshit that it is OK for the Americans and their satellites to screw other nations but Russia can't even have a say on territories which are inhabited by a majority of Russians. Heck ... even the occupation of Akrotiri and Dhekelia by the British is worst. How the fuck does the UK gets to own parts of Cyprus while Russia can't have a say for what are essentially Russian territories? Putin might be an asshole ... but I think some balance in our world is long overdue!!
Soto, you do make some good points about the USA and Russia in terms of their imperfections as so called democracies. There is, however, a balance that exists in the world that hasn't ever been seen in the past. The things you mentioned with the Crimea, Palestine or Cyprus are insignificant, much like you smacking your little sister upside the head, she can cry all she wants but who cares enough to start another World War.