Bullies do what bullies do

"It will be interesting to see how this plays out. If we can keep Putin's finger off the red button, this could end up with a neutered Russia going forward. Or, it could end up with the world smoldering in radioactive ruin. Stay tuned. This is far from over."      

What do you do with a guy like Putin? He thinks he is so tough, just because he had thousands of nukes. He keeps pushing and pushing, and getting very little push back. He is a bully. A first class bully. He is doing his level best to goad NATO into a fight. Trying to goad the US into a fight. Here is the bottom line. Like any other bully, in the absence of push back, the bullying will continue and only get worse. More land will be confiscated or annexed. More innocent people will be killed. And the world will just sit back and watch.

Hitler was a bully. We ignored his as long as a could. Stayed isolations (of sort). We had the Lend Lease program (kind of like we are doing now with Ukraine). Hitler knew that he could draw America into the war. He did not fear us, just like Putin does not fear us today. In fact, Russian bombers are buzzing Alaska, Norway, Finland and Poland. This is a dangerous game. One slip and a cold war can turn very hot, very fast.

Here is the irony. If the war in Ukraine has done nothing else, it has shown Putin's army to be crap. They are a nothing burger. As low as our military is rated right now with readiness, I would put our military up against these pretenders from Moscow any day of the week (and twice on Sunday). Again, if not for Putin's nukes - this thing would have been over weeks ago.

As has been addressed before, Putin has gas and nukes and not much else. His country is teetering on the edge of financial ruin due to worldwide sanctions. Putin is doing fine (economically), but his beloved Russia is not. Most Russian worth a salt, know this war was a mistake. It is not only ruining Russia economically, but also their name. Their brand. Russia is now a rogue state, filled with war criminals. So long as the Russian allow Putin to be in charge, this will continue.

How do you fix a bully? Someone needs to come up to that bully and (figuratively), punch him in the nose. Who will that be? Biden? Don't make me laugh. Truss of the UK? Sorry - she just quit this morning. Macron of France? Nope. He already telegraphed his next move. Duck and cover. Fidel's kid in Canada? Now way. He is worse than Biden.

Then who will stand up to bully Putin? Maybe President Duda of Poland? Even though Poland is paranoid of Russia invading Poland, they are ready. In fact, they take the threat of nukes so seriously, they have asked NATO if Poland could host nukes on their territory. 

President Niinistö of Finland? With that huge border with Russia, Finland is ready for any Russian incursion. Their artillery is rumored to be second to none. Prime Minister Kristersson of Sweden? Sweden is small but mighty. Whereas Finland is known for its artillery, Sweden is known for its technology in air power. Prime Minister Store of Norway? Probably not. Norway's military is small but very tough. Still - David against Goliath.

That leaves Germany, the home of the last global bully, Hitler. Germany's Chancellor is Scholz. Right after Russia invaded Ukraine, Scholz announced that Germany was going to double its defense spending. The goal - to have the largest army in Europe. Now we are talking about someone who can go toe to toe with that bully Putin!

It will be interesting to see how this plays out. If we can keep Putin's finger off the red button, this could end up with a neutered Russia going forward. Or, it could end up with the world smoldering in radioactive ruin. Stay tuned. This is far from over.