Recently, I learned that Russia feels betrayed that NATO is involved in Ukraine, for Moscow views this is in violation of promises made at the negotiations for the reunification of Germany. Apparently, Feb. 9, 1990, Secretary of State James Baker, under President George H.W. Bush, told Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev that "if we maintain a presence in a Germany that is a part of NATO, there would be no extension of NATO's jurisdiction for forces of NATO 1 inch to the east."
In addition, German Foreign Minister Hans Dietrich Genscher also gave assurances to Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primalov ruling out NATO expansion. Even Robert Gates, deputy national security adviser at the time, and former defense secretary under Obama's administration stated, "Soviets were 'led to believe' NATO would not expand eastward."
#1: Vicomte13 To: Charles_Byrd (#0)
They were the enemy from Stalin's time forward. They opposed us everywhere, fought us in a brutal series of engagements in the Cold War, and they lost.
That is the bottom line: they fought a war, and they lost it. To us.
Now, we are not much of a conqueror. We didn't try to divvy up Russia or anything that would have forced them to fight further. To the contrary, lots of formerly Soviet republics wanted their freedom and took it, including Ukraine.
Ukraine is not Russia. There is no US betrayal of Russia here. Russia never had any right to Ukraine, and still doesn't. They went where they were not welcome, and now they are dying in droves, and will continue to die in droves, because the whole world backs the Ukraine against them.
If they are too proud to accept the loss and leave, they will be ground to powder with casualties they can never replace. Their problem. Nobody gives a shit about the fragile Russian ego. You're not superstars. You're weak, and you've lost. Grow up and leave. Or stay and die and be driven out anyway. Boo hoo.
Vicomte13 posted on 2023-08-29 11:57:19 Reply Private Reply
#2: Charles_Byrd To: Vicomte13 (#1)
Charles_Byrd posted on 2023-08-29 21:02:42 Reply Private Reply
#3: Vicomte13 To: Charles_Byrd (#2)
Vicomte13 posted on 2023-09-10 20:42:50 Reply Private Reply