"The brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia is the result of decades of ill-conceived foreign policy priorities in the West. Ever since George F. Kennan's post-WWII containment policy became gospel in most Western capitals, the world's bad actors have been able to exploit a Western reluctance to confront and defeat tyrannies--in the name of avoiding the escalation of conflicts. The goal of containment (and d???etente that was modeled on it) was to maintain the status quo which saw the world divided between two superpowers. ...
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"The brutal invasion of Ukraine by Russia is the result of decades of ill-conceived foreign policy priorities in the West. Ever since George F. Kennan's post-WWII containment policy became gospel in most Western capitals, the world's bad actors have been able to exploit a Western reluctance to confront and defeat tyrannies--in the name of avoiding the escalation of conflicts. The goal of containment (and d???etente that was modeled on it) was to maintain the status quo which saw the world divided between two superpowers. World War II came to a successful end because the Axis powers surrendered unconditionally to the Allies, and the Allies made sure that the imperialist beasts that had rampaged across the earth were caged and defanged. However, starting in Korea, with few exceptions (Reagan's "We win. They Lose" policy) Western powers have sued for peace while the enemy was still viable and capable of recovering and renewing its aggression. Thus the Soviet Union ruled an empire of subject peoples, satellite countries and client states for decades, inflicting untold suffering on the people living under its totalitarian boot. Ex-KGB officer Vladimir Putin has turned Russia from a Communist state into a fascist state, and has been encouraged in his aggression against Ukraine by the feeble Western response to his earlier predations in Georgia and Crimea. This must change. Ukraine must get all the support it needs to defeat Russia decisively. Ukraine can win and must win. The West should do everything possible to speed that outcome"--
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