NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the war is NATO's fault

@Bumbles Please listen to the video before you comment. The SECRETARY GENERAL OF NATO said that NATO was to blame. Let that sink in.

@hippyjoe1955 The interview is not with the Secretary General of NATO. The Secretary General of NATO is Jens Stoltenburg who squarely blames Russia for Russia’s invasion, and supports Ukraine.

@Bumbles And he blames the expansion of NATO for causing the war. I tend to disagree with him. Yes NATO's expansion was a huge factor but the slaughter of people in the breakaway regions also played a part in Putin's SMO. The people in the breakaway regions all ask the same question. Since Ukraine began the slaughter in 2014 what took Putin so long to start the SMO.

@hippyjoe1955 No, he doesn’t. This professor you posted does. Ukraine didn’t even join NATO. There is no logic to your argument.

@Bumbles Your denial is based on your ignorance. NATO pushed Russia. NATO had the plan of cutting Russia off from the Black Sea. It tried to bring in Georgia and Russia acted and put that idea to rest in 3 days. Now it is Ukraine and Crimea. Russia has said NYET and it means it. There is no need for Ukraine to join NATO. Never was and never will be. The US military couldn't even defeat the Taliban.

@hippyjoe1955 Sure, there was going to be a NATO naval blockade of the Russian navy. Please.

@Bumbles Crimea was a part of Ukraine post 1953 pre 2014. If Russia had not taken Crimea in 2014 and Ukraine joined NATO Russia would have lost its naval bases on the Black Sea. Son you are so ignorant of facts as to be painful.

@hippyjoe1955 An odd argument to be sure — The bases resulting from Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea would be threatened if Ukraine joined NATO which it did not. Got it!

@Bumbles Crimea was Russian long before Ukraine even existed. My great great grandfather was dispatched to fight the British during the Crimean war. Maybe you have heard of it. Charge of the LIght Brigade, Florence Nightingale..... Britain was trying to cut Russia off of its access to the Black Sea just as NATO is doing today. Those who don't learn from history are damned to repeat it.

@hippyjoe1955 The Russian Empire ebbs and flows, and now Putin wants it to flow again. His invasion of Crimea was illegal in 2014. Period. End of story.

Just say you approve of Putin’s invasions because you love the guy. Much simpler than all this argle gargle back flip rationalizations.

@Bumbles This war is all about the US hegemony (weird word that means empire) than it does about Russia. Russia was not about to invade anyone until NATO moved in next door. I bet you were not aware that Russia asked to join NATO twice and was rejected by the US since the US needs an enemy to keep its citizens in a state of war alert. Doubt me? The US has been in or started or still is involved in 215 wars/coups/insurrections since 1991. The vast vast majority of them were unprovoked most of them were legal. Russia has been involved in 5. All of which came after extreme provocation. So which nation is the greater threat to the world? Ever see the US try to install presidents? I have. Ever see the US sanction a country for daring to try to go its own way? I have. Ever seen the US invade a country because the country wanted to go its own way? I have. The US is not a saintly organization and if and when it cleans up its act and stop acting like the global bully......

@hippyjoe1955 I’m familiar with the term, but thank you. It doesn’t mean empire, but dominance. And no, Putin invaded a sovereign nation. Ukraine had the right to orient itself to Europe, and it would have had the right to seek to join NATO. By your argument Russia would have the right to invade Finland.

Your criticism of the US is up to you, I’m not a US apologist.

@Bumbles It mean empire. The American empire is falling apart and it doesn't like it. Sad how it is lashing out so foolishly especially against nations such as Russia and China. Both of which will clean the US clock should open hostilities break out.

@hippyjoe1955 It doesn't mean empire. Empire means empire. Hegemony is about dominance. If you would like to make an argument about American dominance waning go for it, although NATO you believe is a massive threat to Russia.

As far as the strength of their militaries, I would be hard pressed to find someone (I guess you are the first) who believes the Russian military could defeat the American military.

@hippyjoe1955 PS The US is seeking to maintain the status quo with Taiwan. The change is with China’s belligerence. It’s neighbors, not just the US, are also concerned with their attempts at hegemony is the South China Sea.

@Bumbles Talk to Taiwan about that. I here that the upcoming elections in Taiwan are likely to bring about a 'reunification' government as it seems most people in Taiwan want to be Chinese. Again the US is sticking its nose in where it doesn't belong hoping to start war so its military industrial complex can extort more money from the US tax payers. It is going to be really funny how that works since the US is borrowing money from China to give to Ukraine - who will the US borrow from to fight China?

@hippyjoe1955 Right, hoping for a war. The ol profit motive. If Taiwan wants to be ruled by the CCP I’ll eat my hat.

@Bumbles Start chowing down. I am basing that on recent polls.

@Bumbles Which no country cared about when he annexed the Crimera which was part of the Ukraine, they ONLY cared when he went into Ukraine fully, so what was the difference ?

@milkymum1 “Not caring” is an exaggeration, but Ukraine was not in a place to mount a counter offensive. Further, criticizing the West for appeasing Piston is reasonable. Comparisons to appeasing Hitler are apt.

The obvious difference however, is going into Ukraine to make it cease to exist as a sovereign nation verses taking a chunk. You said it yourself, going into Ukraine “fully.”