Of course.
Why would anyone think otherwise?
I was simply addressing @WorzelScummageās point that Russia just invading the East would not have led to a less spiky (the) West.
Biden and pals are dressing up an eight year old coup state as a democracy.
At no point have I suggested that national self interest doesnāt go both ways.
Why are you assuming I am?
Because youāve only called out the West on it.
Do you think the Russians, infamously over-burdened with natural resources, are invading the Donetsk to secure natural resources?
To stop the West getting their grubby mitts on it thus reducing the reliance they have on Gas and Oil from the East???
Itās the least important reason for the invasion.
Iād say the belligerent coup state and the impending mop-up of Donbas by Ukrainian forces were bigger factors.
Do you think the Americans, infamously over-burdened with natural resources, invaded Iraq to secure natural resources?
Russian GDP is half the UKs, with 2x the population. Of course they would invade the Ukraine for natural resources.
The range of US corporations that sprung up there would seem to suggest so.
Besides, the US has different priorities for its own oil, more interested in keeping it in reserve for a rainy day.
I think theyāll want that Iraqi oil more than ever now.
The Americans do like to stockpile donāt they? Gold, oil, nukes, crashed UFOs to name a few.
I donāt think thereās much inherently wrong in stockpiling, but it can be done for the wrong reasons.
Stock-piling essential materials to assist in any future pandemic? Great idea. The just-in-time economy fell apart.
Not every application is as worthy. Thatcher stockpiled coal to get her through the minerās strike. Donāt mind the UFOs so much but nukes are a real problem. Theyāll just end up going to the kids.
Iād like to know about the UFOs officially before I die, but Iām sure thatās a topic for another thread.
And this is it - I think they did as well. And I think Russia are now.
Why are they so bothered about Donbas, when they werenāt as bothered about Latvia and Estonia?
Latvia and Estoniaās Russian speaking populations werenāt getting shelled by ethnic Latvians and Estonians, perhaps?
Or maybe the strategic situation is completely different because of the Kalinigrad enclave.
So is the invasion of Ukraine because of the encroach of Nato, or because of the shelling of Donbas?
Or is it neither, and more that they want to snatch natural resources? Something both Latvia and Estonia donāt have much of.
Can be many reasons.
World War I didnāt kick off just because Gavrilo Princip shot Archduke Ferdinand. A lot of other stuff has to happen.
Donāt understand why everything has to be mutually exclusive with you. For any given event there are usually a myriad of contributing factors.
Oh absolutely, I agree itās a myriad of reasons. Just donāt know why you were criticising the West for wanting natural resources, when it looks like that is the main reason for the Russianās as well.
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A resource grab for stuff they already got makes no sense.
Yes, Iām sure there are some oligarchs that would love the moolah.
I think Putin wants a rump Ukraine and a solid example given to the rest of the world that the Yeltsin days are over. I think he wants that much more than oil and coal that he already has.
This is what weāve been saying all along, it isnāt supposed NATO aggression its he wants a return to client states and the Soviet Union, Iām glad weāre on the same page.
Eh? Classic example is the US. Has tons of oil. Wanted more so invaded Iraq. More resources = more money
You recognise that, surely? Why wouldnāt he want more money for an economy that isnāt that productive?