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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
Russia is meddling in the operation of Western governments by interfering with elections. They're not doing this out of the goodness of their hearts — they're doing it in order to benefit themselves, which generally means weakening the West in order to discourage them from opposing Russian power grabs like Ukraine and Syria.
This is not a state of affairs that should be ignored by any means.
That doesn't mean that responding tit-for-tat is necessarily the most appropriate response. But undoubtedly there needs to be some response, and you, Captain, seem to be arguing against the idea that something needs to be done.
Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.Well right now the Russians are out to get us and they're going right for the throat. What are we supposed to do?
They have demonstrated that even with their comparatively weakened military they can still cause possibly irreparable damage to the United States and the West in general. We can't ignore this and we can't treat this like an isolated incident.
edited 10th May '17 10:00:53 AM by LeGarcon
Oh really when?@Jovian: There's not really any proactive way to respond to this that doesn't seem likely to escalate matters. Further sanction regimes won't work since, in order to be harsh enough to have a real impact on Russian policy, Europe would have to cripple itself economically. We already have a more than adequate deterrent against conventional military action, stepping that up further would simply produce a response in kind. What can be done is largely internal and defensive rather than external and proactive; better cyber-security infrastructure, and better means of refuting propaganda efforts like this.
@Garcon: The United States is still overwhelmingly the most powerful country in the world. It is increasingly unable to assert itself as a sole global hegemon, but refusing to face that reality will lead us straight into the thucydides trap.
edited 10th May '17 10:04:40 AM by CaptainCapsase
Putin is mostly using the US as a bogeyman to keep the Russian population's mind off their domestic issues. His foreign policy is wildly popular, which helps him stay in power despite the fact that his domestic policy is miserable. This is one of the reasons that making overt moves against Russia isn't necessarily the best idea — it actually benefits Putin on the domestic front to have a strong and hostile United States setting itself against him.
Of course, having a friendly US that looks the other way while Russia invades sovereign nations and props up regimes that commit crimes against humanity is good for Putin, too. We have to find some sort of middle ground. This is why foreign policy is hard.
edited 10th May '17 10:05:36 AM by NativeJovian
Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.
From what Knit Tie on the Russian thread has posted, Putin actually gets by because the opposition is just that shitty. Putin has fucked up many times on the domestic and foreign fronts...and he is still seen as the most competent leader Russia has had in decades.
Russian Camera crews were just allowed in the Oval Office.
On a scale of 1-10 anyone want to take a crack and how much of a bad idea that is? Considering they could have all kinds of spy equipment?
New Survey coming this weekend!@Jovian, @Ambar: Not doing something proactive (ie more sanctions, tit for tat, or military buildup) isn't the same thing as doing nothing. Coming up with better ways to handle this sort of situation in the future, improving cybersecurity infrastructure, and so on is the best that can be done without making things worse.
edited 10th May '17 10:11:13 AM by CaptainCapsase
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On the scale of Sanders running for office.
edited 10th May '17 10:11:46 AM by RAlexa21th
Continue writing our story of peace.11, but that would make them look smarter than they are.
The only good fanboy, is a redeemed fanboy.On a scale of 1~10?
I'd put it somewhere around "WTF IS WRONG WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION?!"
edited 10th May '17 10:12:52 AM by M84
Disgusted, but not surprised

They can and will continue to gain power, they've got the know how, they've got the resources, they got the infrastructure, and now they've got NATO and West off their backs for four years at minimum.
I'm not saying we need to park nukes on the Polish border but we have to engage them and treat them like an existential threat again.
They won't stop being hostile and these attacks will only get more severe as time goes on.
edited 10th May '17 9:54:30 AM by LeGarcon
Oh really when?