> evidence for the hypothesis that Putin is probably not going to
Well, that’s a load off my mind! For a second there I thought he was rebuilding an empire using completely transparent Soviet-era pretexts in small enough steps that the West is unable to overcome its paralysis.
Look, it’s very simple. Putin is a predator, and Europe would rather have warm homes in winter than stand on principle. That is their right of course, but let us call a spade a spade.
> is not a dictatorship
If Putin’s Russia is not a dictatorship, there are no dictatorships on Earth.
Well, that’s a load off my mind! For a second there I thought he was rebuilding an empire using completely transparent Soviet-era pretexts in small enough steps that the West is unable to overcome its paralysis.
Does he want to annex another Chechnya or two?
Look, it’s very simple. Putin is a predator, and Europe would rather have warm homes in winter than stand on principle.
What principle? Why should Europeans give up their warm homes and cheap electricity to defend the territorial integrity of countries which aren’t even part of the EU or the NATO?
The principle that we should not be moral cowards, and defend shelling points even if they do not involve us directly yet, encapsulated in the famous “First they came for...” poem.
> evidence for the hypothesis that Putin is probably not going to Well, that’s a load off my mind! For a second there I thought he was rebuilding an empire using completely transparent Soviet-era pretexts in small enough steps that the West is unable to overcome its paralysis. Look, it’s very simple. Putin is a predator, and Europe would rather have warm homes in winter than stand on principle. That is their right of course, but let us call a spade a spade. > is not a dictatorship If Putin’s Russia is not a dictatorship, there are no dictatorships on Earth.
Does he want to annex another Chechnya or two?
What principle? Why should Europeans give up their warm homes and cheap electricity to defend the territorial integrity of countries which aren’t even part of the EU or the NATO?
The principle that we should not be moral cowards, and defend shelling points even if they do not involve us directly yet, encapsulated in the famous “First they came for...” poem.
I don’t see this as a moral issue.
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/slippery-slope
http://lesswrong.com/lw/ase/schelling_fences_on_slippery_slopes/ You are quite right, there is a slippery slope here! --- > I don’t see this as a moral issue. Indeed, you demonstrated that quite clearly.