OT: Putin's War in Ukraine

[kcdusk]

Random thoughts from the last couple of days. Mods, please let me know if I have crossed the line with any comments or take the post down. My intention was not to even get close to anything potentially inflammatory.

I asked the question a year or two ago about economic sanctions hurting Russia, and how that may impact the war. But in recent days I'm left asking myself did the USA run out of money before Russia did?

Or did the USA simply run out of patience fighting another over seas war?

I thought Trump was "pro guns" and by extension "pro war" because of the huge economic benefit it provided to the USA (ie lot of jobs and local spend?)? But getting out of the war will mean less spend?
The difference between this war and others is that the USA didn't have boots on the ground, so I thought they'd be more likely to stay the course.

In my mind, if we relate recent events back to WWII. It would be like the Allies allowing Germany to "keep" Poland and France if it brought an early end to the war. And allowing Japan to "keep" Pupau New Guniea and Australia if it ended the war.

And if thats the case, what stops Russia next time (next year?)? I'd be nervous if I was Poland.

How bad must Ukraine feel not being allowed to Join NATO? Is like not being allowed into a "friends" group.

Russia/Putin just had to sit there for the last couple of weeks and watch NATO implode.

While I am not in favour of war. I'm not sure I'm in favour of peace at any cost. Or rewarding bad behaviour (ie Russias military exercise to invade Ukraine).