Well, the cruise missiles are flying..

[Jolly]

1. We thought that faction of Al queda were in Iraq and being helped by the Iraqi government.
2. Hussein had threatened the life of 41. Dumb move.
3. We knew Hussein had WMD in the form of nerve gas and chemical artillery shells. I think a good bit wound up in Syria.
4. Oil. Further wars in that section of the world would certainly destabilize energy prices.

[LuFins Dad]

I’ll also add that Saddam was still sponsoring terrorism, was repeatedly attacking the peacekeepers, was barring access to UN Inspectors, and was starving his people while living in obscene wealth.

[Mik]

All that seems right to us. Not sure it does to the rest of the world.

[George K]

[LuFins Dad]

@Mik said in Well, the cruise missiles are flying..:

All that seems right to us. Not sure it does to the rest of the world.

Well, since Iraq is not our 51st state or even a territory and considering that we import less oil from Iraq than we do Ecuador, I think comparisons with an invasion meant to subsume a nation and their citizens doesn’t hold water. If other people feel differently, that’s okay. They are allowed to be idiots.

[kluurs]

[xenon]

I don’t understand why the last two administrations and the current one have been so hesitant to arm Ukraine.

I’m sure I’m missing something obvious. Was it the fear that the gear would eventually end up in Russian hands?

[LuFins Dad]

Are Poland and the Baltics constrained by EU to not take action? I’m a little surprised that they aren’t taking a more active position.

[George K]

[Jolly]

Welcome to war.

[Renauda]

[George K]

[Horace]

These optics can’t be good for Russia.

[xenon]

@Horace said in Well, the cruise missiles are flying..:

These optics can’t be good for Russia.

I don't see how any of this is to the long-term benefit of Russia. They're a commodity seller and countries will be even more wary of Russian investments and economic entanglements going forward.

[Jolly]

Machts nichts.

Germany, along with a couple of other European countries, will not agree to SWIFT sanctions.

[Copper]

If I was Russian, and I'm not, I would advise marching straight to Dunkirk, then turn south.

Why not?

Who would stop them?

[George K]

@Jolly said in Well, the cruise missiles are flying..:

Welcome to war.

[LuFins Dad]

Is Baghdad Bob in the Ukraine?

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-says-more-than-1000-russian-soldiers-killed-so-far-2022-02-25/

I’m willing to believe Ukraine is causing more casualties than they are taking, but 10-1?

[Jolly]

Normal ratio is that it takes three attackers to defeat one defender in a fortified position.

[George K]

Apartment building hit.