I saw what was going to happen in The Ukraine though I still can't quite bring myself to believe that it is actually occurring, even as I watch the Russian onslaught. I would add that this will not end with The Ukraine. Putin learned well in 2008 in Georgia and 2014 in the Crimea that a feckless West would do nothing of substance to protect its allies. Once he has ended Ukrainian independence, he will turn his attention to the other former Soviet/Russian satellites. I'd be very, very nervous right now if I lived in the Baltic countries or the old Warsaw Pact nations.
Oh, and to make matters worse (if that's somehow possible), don't think that the Chinese aren't watching very closely how the U.S. in particular and the West in general responds to the Russian invasion. Lessons will be learned by them as well, and I'd also be terrified if I lived in Taiwan.
I saw what was going to happen in The Ukraine though I still can't quite bring myself to believe that it is actually occurring, even as I watch the Russian onslaught. I would add that this will not end with The Ukraine. Putin learned well in 2008 in Georgia and 2014 in the Crimea that a feckless West would do nothing of substance to protect its allies. Once he has ended Ukrainian independence, he will turn his attention to the other former Soviet/Russian satellites. I'd be very, very nervous right now if I lived in the Baltic countries or the old Warsaw Pact nations.
Oh, and to make matters worse (if that's somehow possible), don't think that the Chinese aren't watching very closely how the U.S. in particular and the West in general responds to the Russian invasion. Lessons will be learned by them as well, and I'd also be terrified if I lived in Taiwan.