Quote:
Originally Posted by woj
great, except pretty much 2/3rds of Russian economy is based on selling oil+gas to the west... if something were to fuck that trade up, Russia would probably be in trouble...
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Exactly... and that should have always been the first course of action. The mistake was allowing oil prices to shoot through the roof so many years ago. Up to that point, Russia was limping along and Putin was walking around Bush's ranch with a cowboy hat on because he really had no choice but to kiss ass and pretend at home that he wasn't (i.e. security council vetos, attacking Georgia etc). Today, we have a weak president and he has cash and experience and he plays the game much better. Spectacular timing of events allowed him to swiftly move in and do something they've wanted to do since 91.
What i am saying though is that no one is going to get tough on them. The world is too weak. We can do it to Iran because they are different. They aren't white. They are mostly Muslim and they hate the US. Once the nightly news starts showing hardships on common Russian people due to sanctions on Russia, suddenly the attitudes shift in a blink of the eye and Russia is the victim in everyone's eyes and it will all be undone.
The world is a different place than 20 years ago or 30 or 40. While the West is busy singing Kumbaya... other nations have no intention whatsoever of joining in and when opportunity presents itself.. they pounce.
I'm not saying Putin is a great person. He is however a great leader, a great tactician and great politician.