WWTBAM Bored

One can't help but be amused that Russia is currently in charge of the UN Security Council thus basically removing the UN as a tool in this problem.

The UN and diplomacy loving left (here and other places) are swinging in the wind on this one.

So, how are those 200 plus meetings working out for you?

>>>"The team has patted itself on the back, with Blinken telling MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that during the Ukraine crisis “there have been more than 200 engagements, meetings, phone calls, video conferences with NATO, with the European Union, with the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe], with allies and partners throughout Europe, even beyond.”>>>>

Only a West Wing* watching based foreign policy team would congratulate themselves for the number of "engagements, meetings, phone calls and video conferences" as things go to hell.

*Jen Psaki recently noted that the watching the West Wing got her back into politics.

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:22 am

One can't help but be amused that Russia is currently in charge of the UN Security Council thus basically removing the UN as a tool in this problem.

The UN and diplomacy loving left (here and other places) are swinging in the wind on this one.

I don't recall anyone ever claiming that the U.N. was going to resolve this matter. Biden has done what he needs to in order to get his allies on board regarding sanctions against Russia. Those meetings weren't for Putin's benefit. They were for the benefit of the various other countries involved in the coalition against Russia currently. What Biden did includes repairing the damage Trump did to NATO. If you'll recall, the German chancellor was wishy-washy about the Nord Stream pipeline when asked a few weeks ago. Many of the most effective potential sanctions against Putin are out of Biden's direct control, including a lot of measures having to do with the international banking and finance system. He needs the Europeans to go along on these. Let's see what they've got in store for Putin today. Part of Putin's calculations were that the West was going to do nothing other than some meaningless scattershot sanctions, you know the sort that Trump finally approved. Or as Trump put it, "$2 worth of sanctions."

And Putin didn't have to invade Ukraine while Trump was President. He had Trump to do all his fighting for him, and it didn't cost him a single soldier or bullet.

And I've never been a fan of Obama's foreign policy, as people on this Bored well know. Ironically, it turns out that Mitt Romney was the most prescient politician in the country at the time.

SSS>>>>" Let's see what they've got in store for Putin today."<<<<

Waving hand frantically in air-"I Know, I know."

They are going to have some ""engagements, meetings, phone calls and video conferences" and talk really, really, really tough and not actually do anything.

IOW-Speak Very Loudly and Carry No Stick.

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:42 am

SSS>>>>" Let's see what they've got in store for Putin today."<<<<

Waving hand frantically in air-"I Know, I know."

They are going to have some ""engagements, meetings, phone calls and video conferences" and talk really, really, really tough and not actually do anything.

IOW-Speak Very Loudly and Carry No Stick.

So you're suggesting we should put American troops on the ground in Ukraine to directly engage with (fight and die against) the Russian invaders? --Bob

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:42 am

IOW-Speak Very Loudly and Carry No Stick.

The Russian stock market has already collapsed and the ruble is essentially worthless right now. That's not "no stick," and that's just the first tranche of sanctions.

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:42 am

silverscreenselect wrote:Let's see what they've got in store for Putin today.

Waving hand frantically in air-"I Know, I know."

They are going to have some ""engagements, meetings, phone calls and video conferences" and talk really, really, really tough and not actually do anything.

IOW-Speak Very Loudly and Carry No Stick.

I'm wondering, Spock. What price are you, personally, willing to pay to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion? Are you willing to pay higher energy prices without complaining? Are you willing to cope with higher inflation toward that end? Or will you insist on our politicians doing something, anything, to bring prices down, even at the cost of abandoning Ukraine?

Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? Or are you just demanding something for nothing? --Bob

Bob78164 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 am

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:42 am

silverscreenselect wrote:Let's see what they've got in store for Putin today.

Waving hand frantically in air-"I Know, I know."

They are going to have some ""engagements, meetings, phone calls and video conferences" and talk really, really, really tough and not actually do anything.

IOW-Speak Very Loudly and Carry No Stick.

I'm wondering, Spock. What price are you, personally, willing to pay to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion? Are you willing to pay higher energy prices without complaining? Are you willing to cope with higher inflation toward that end? Or will you insist on our politicians doing something, anything, to bring prices down, even at the cost of abandoning Ukraine?

Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? Or are you just demanding something for nothing? --Bob

You guys are the ones that have been shooting your mouths off about Putin for years. I don't see much action on your parts. Unless you count talking smack to a Minnesota farmer as doing your share. The scary part is that you probably do.

As far as the effectiveness of diplomacy and sanctions, call me when the Biden Admin gets the Western Europeans to stop buying Russian Nat Gas. It has been made very clear today that Russian gas will continue to flow west.

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:22 am

One can't help but be amused that Russia is currently in charge of the UN Security Council thus basically removing the UN as a tool in this problem.

The UN and diplomacy loving left (here and other places) are swinging in the wind on this one.

So, how are those 200 plus meetings working out for you?

>>>"The team has patted itself on the back, with Blinken telling MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that during the Ukraine crisis “there have been more than 200 engagements, meetings, phone calls, video conferences with NATO, with the European Union, with the OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe], with allies and partners throughout Europe, even beyond.”>>>>

Only a West Wing* watching based foreign policy team would congratulate themselves for the number of "engagements, meetings, phone calls and video conferences" as things go to hell.

*Jen Psaki recently noted that the watching the West Wing got her back into politics.

Presidency of the UN Security Council rotates monthly.
Russia is one of the five countries that has a permanent veto, but that problem is there regardless of who is presiding.

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 2:48 pm

Bob78164 wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 11:56 am

Spock wrote: ↑

Thu Feb 24, 2022 9:42 am

Waving hand frantically in air-"I Know, I know."

They are going to have some ""engagements, meetings, phone calls and video conferences" and talk really, really, really tough and not actually do anything.

IOW-Speak Very Loudly and Carry No Stick.

I'm wondering, Spock. What price are you, personally, willing to pay to help Ukraine resist the Russian invasion? Are you willing to pay higher energy prices without complaining? Are you willing to cope with higher inflation toward that end? Or will you insist on our politicians doing something, anything, to bring prices down, even at the cost of abandoning Ukraine?

Are you willing to put your money where your mouth is? Or are you just demanding something for nothing? --Bob

You guys are the ones that have been shooting your mouths off about Putin for years. I don't see much action on your parts. Unless you count talking smack to a Minnesota farmer as doing your share. The scary part is that you probably do.

As far as the effectiveness of diplomacy and sanctions, call me when the Biden Admin gets the Western Europeans to stop buying Russian Nat Gas. It has been made very clear today that Russian gas will continue to flow west.

Besides, I really don't have to do anything. On the news, I saw the overflowing lines outside military recruiting offices near the Ivy League colleges. One Harvard student was quoted that "He couldn't wait to defend NATO with his boots on the ground."