re: #617 Dr Lizardo

I don’t think it necessarily would, actually. I have no problem if they take Crimea, but that’s my red line.

Empires are psychological; a successful invasion and conquest of Ukraine would put the wind in their sails - it would give them enormous psychological momentum. A sense of nationalistic pride.

Okay, I don’t think empires are psychological, so that would be the difference here. I don’t even know what that means.

t’s a risk - a major risk. It could backfire quite spectacularly. But to inflict a defeat on a former empire - one with a rather dubious military history, such as the Battle of the Tsushima Straits as well - that has more or less imperial ambitions and is feeling its oats, that’s worth it. Maybe they’ll finally realize that they’ll always be a second-rate military power, no matter what they do. That they really are a “Colossus with feet of clay”.

I’m sorry, why would they ‘always’ remain anything? I’m not following you at all. Russia could be a first-rate military power, and I’m really confused as to why you think they couldn’t be. Can you explain?