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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 26, 2022

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To anyone who has discussed the issue with pro-Putin people.

Why do people support Russia fighting against Ukraine, with a strange militaristic fervor, instead of supporting ending the war by bringing the troops home?

Some points:

-the war is severely impoverishing Russia due to sanctions

-the war is destroying Russia ( population + infrastructures / institutions)

-continuing the war increases the chances of a world war

Is it cheering for the possible destruction of Ukraine?

Something to do with the current leadership of Ukraine, pro-LGBTQ, "western values"?

Notion that 'if we don't stop NATO expansion now they will never stop no matter what'? Is it something about broadly standing up against NATO expansion of one state vs another, supporting the 'underdog'?

The issue with that one is that Russia has nuclear weapons and NATO expansions doesn't change the MAD calculus.

Sending another 100k Russians to the meatgrinder for that end seems a little bit harsh coming from people with very little skin in the game.

Just signaling what they are told is the correct opinion?

Is it about saving face, sunk cost at this point?

What would be the best case scenario for a Russia/Alt-right victory?

To my understanding, Zelensky is not the most radical or dangerous politician in Ukraine, and an Russian occupation of Ukraine would cause similar problems to the US occupation of Iraq. Ukrainians for example would not appear very Russia-friendly once 'liberated' by Russia.

Not only that, but economic crisis in Russia could generate additional security risks.