Horrendous news today about the Red's invasion of Ukraine. Not going to labour this as we will all have seen the news bulletins. All the West has done so far is to promise sanctions and we must impose as many of those as we can no matter how trivial. Max Verstappen has already called for the cancellation of the Russian Grand Prix whilst Seb Vettel has said that he will not take part even if, unthinkably, it goes ahead. The football final due to take place in St Petersburg is already under threat from EUFA. This brutal regime must be ostracised in every way possible.
Putin is an unbalanced madman and is challenging the NATO countries. Matching him with warfare must be a last resort and I hope it never comes to that. But he must not be allowed to get away with this. Nato failed to challenge Putin when he annexed the Crimea and this emboldened him to think he can get away with his present actions - much like the situation prior to World War II when Hitler's Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and Chamberlain and the Allies opted for appeasement instead of showing strength. Appeasement NEVER works with insane bullies who regard it as a sign of weakness.
And where is Sleepy Joe Biden in all this? Putin timed his attack to perfection when one of the weakest American Presidents in living memory is in office. For sure Donald Trump was a very flawed man but I have to wonder if Putin would have chanced his arm against him. I really don't know the answer to that but I suspect not. Biden gives every appearance of being a refugee from the film set of "The Walking Dead" and I am concerned about his ability to deal with this situation. The underlying problem is that China is taking more than a passing interest in proceedings and will have their own agenda if any weakness is shown by NATO.
Meantime, short of open warfare, the Western Allies must impose each and every sanction available to them, even those involving sport, no matter how small fry that might appear. Russia must be bankrupted as soon as is humanly possible to try and prevent them from escalating their actions. It's a tragic day but remember that World War II was far more tragic, which is the price that is paid when bullies and tyrants are allowed to get their way.
PS: Just remember that once Hitler got his way with Czechoslovakia he didn't stop there. NEITHER WILL PUTIN. The Baltic countries, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania will attract his maniacal eye along with the likes of Poland etc etc. Sooner or later this KGB bandit and murderer will have to be faced down. It might as well be now.
Putin is an unbalanced madman and is challenging the NATO countries. Matching him with warfare must be a last resort and I hope it never comes to that. But he must not be allowed to get away with this. Nato failed to challenge Putin when he annexed the Crimea and this emboldened him to think he can get away with his present actions - much like the situation prior to World War II when Hitler's Germany annexed Czechoslovakia and Chamberlain and the Allies opted for appeasement instead of showing strength. Appeasement NEVER works with insane bullies who regard it as a sign of weakness.
And where is Sleepy Joe Biden in all this? Putin timed his attack to perfection when one of the weakest American Presidents in living memory is in office. For sure Donald Trump was a very flawed man but I have to wonder if Putin would have chanced his arm against him. I really don't know the answer to that but I suspect not. Biden gives every appearance of being a refugee from the film set of "The Walking Dead" and I am concerned about his ability to deal with this situation. The underlying problem is that China is taking more than a passing interest in proceedings and will have their own agenda if any weakness is shown by NATO.
Meantime, short of open warfare, the Western Allies must impose each and every sanction available to them, even those involving sport, no matter how small fry that might appear. Russia must be bankrupted as soon as is humanly possible to try and prevent them from escalating their actions. It's a tragic day but remember that World War II was far more tragic, which is the price that is paid when bullies and tyrants are allowed to get their way.
PS: Just remember that once Hitler got his way with Czechoslovakia he didn't stop there. NEITHER WILL PUTIN. The Baltic countries, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania will attract his maniacal eye along with the likes of Poland etc etc. Sooner or later this KGB bandit and murderer will have to be faced down. It might as well be now.