- Joined
- Apr 22, 2019
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- Progressive
Belarus is an 'independent country' - but practically, it's greatly subservient to Russia, acting almost as a province. It's allowing Russia to launch attacks on Ukraine from its territory.
But there are limits - and tension over Belarus forces joining the war. Putin badly wants them to but it's the one thing Belarus has refused so far.
And so today Russia launched false flag air attacks on Belarus forces to try to pressure Belarus to 'respond' to them as Ukrainian attacks and enter the war.
My point isn't any of that, it's background. Rather, it's about the issue of the 'delicate' question of combat between the west and Belarus, especially if Belarus gives Putin what he wants and enters the war.
It's one thing for NATO to not attack Russian forces in Russia or Ukraine; but what about attacking Belarus forces? Belarus isn't a nuclear power, and isn't Russia. Does Putin get to say Belarus is 'like NATO' in that an attack on them is like an attack on Russia? That's a 'delicate' hair to split the west has split between NATO countries and Ukraine.
Of course there are Russian forces in Belarus we'd need to avoid. But if Belarus entered the war, and we could strike Belarus forces, should we? What are the dangers of that being an 'escalation' for Putin toward nuclear war? And of course if we did, there's the greatly increased risk of accidentally hitting of Russian forces.
But there are limits - and tension over Belarus forces joining the war. Putin badly wants them to but it's the one thing Belarus has refused so far.
And so today Russia launched false flag air attacks on Belarus forces to try to pressure Belarus to 'respond' to them as Ukrainian attacks and enter the war.
My point isn't any of that, it's background. Rather, it's about the issue of the 'delicate' question of combat between the west and Belarus, especially if Belarus gives Putin what he wants and enters the war.
It's one thing for NATO to not attack Russian forces in Russia or Ukraine; but what about attacking Belarus forces? Belarus isn't a nuclear power, and isn't Russia. Does Putin get to say Belarus is 'like NATO' in that an attack on them is like an attack on Russia? That's a 'delicate' hair to split the west has split between NATO countries and Ukraine.
Of course there are Russian forces in Belarus we'd need to avoid. But if Belarus entered the war, and we could strike Belarus forces, should we? What are the dangers of that being an 'escalation' for Putin toward nuclear war? And of course if we did, there's the greatly increased risk of accidentally hitting of Russian forces.