Putin: sanctions "akin to a declaration of war"

[PeterB]

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/put...022-03-05/

Oy. Classic signs of a paranoid/pathological narcissist, who justifies his aggression against others by making up false accusations and not taking any responsibility for his own actions and behavior... like a little child who hits another child and then when confronted on it, says "but he was hitting me first!" when in fact it never happened.

I don't see this ending well. The only possible thing I can think of, that doesn't involve SOME violent end, is for him to be given some sort of "out" that still allows him to save face... NOT some kind of appeasement, though. As crazy as it is, it seems to be all about him being recognized as the head of a global power, and not being ignored.

[mattkime]

We'll see what he does about it.

[mrbigstuff]

Remember that he has to play the tough guy for his countrymen.

[graylocks]

I'm starting to think he wants an excuse to use his nukes. It's feeling like a Go ahead. Make. My. Day. moment.

[PeterB]

graylocks wrote:
I'm starting to think he wants an excuse to use his nukes. It's feeling like a Go ahead. Make. My. Day. moment.

That is, of course, the major concern -- since it's not clear that there's anyone in the Russian government who could hold back a nuclear order in the same way as there is here, back when we were all concerned about the Floating Orange Fat Man having his finger on the button.

Here's what I think is a well-written analysis from one of the Doomsday Clock folks: https://thebulletin.org/2022/03/a-hurtin...ne-crisis/

[N-OS X-tasy!]

One wonders whether *we* have someone on the inside who, if it comes to it, would coup de grâce Putin’s ass.

[RAMd®d]

This reminds me of another head of state who said '...bring 'em on'.

[Ombligo]

PeterB wrote:
Here's what I think is a well-written analysis from one of the Doomsday Clock folks: https://thebulletin.org/2022/03/a-hurtin...ne-crisis/

Thanks, good read.


Now for the truly out of left field, get your tin hat ready thought I had while reading it.

Putin uses a tactical nuke on his outlying forces, then claims it came from Ukraine via NATO. That gives him the ability to strike back accordingly and claim the high ground by not nuking Warsaw for the unprovoked attack on Russian Liberation Forces.

[rgG]

My question, where would he most likely nuke?
Would it be just to show he will?
He can accomplish the same level of destruction with non-nuclear options, so why would he choose to use a nuke other than the fear/shock factor?
He supposedly wants Ukraine intact, so it would seem nuking them would be detrimental to his purpose of annexation.
I don’t see how you use nukes on a place you want to inhabit, only a place you want to destroy. Wouldn’t that seem to imply he might bomb outside of Ukraine and truly start WWIII?

[graylocks]

Many a warped abuser has killed his victim in a “righteous“ display of might. If I can’t have her nobody can.