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Culture War Roundup for the week of December 22, 2025

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I don't think the situations are comparable here. For Britain, beating up Argentina and keeping whatever they kept, nobody cares by now what it is anyway, was pointless and meaningless. Britain is not an Empire anymore and has no desire or capability of being one. Heck, they aren't sure they want to be Britain anymore - displaying a national flag is officially deemed to be an offense.

For Russia, however, at least in the concept Putin sees the future of Russia, conquering Ukraine is an absolutely key part. You can not have a Russian Empire without having it's historical core - the three Russias, Great, Small and White. While Belorussia is formally independent, Putin has enough control over it to consider it his. The control of Malorossia is absolutely vital, without it the whole project of recovering the past glory has no sense. It doesn't have to be officially part of Russia, at least not yet, but it has to be under the Moscow heel, otherwise you just can't pretend you are doing anything to recover Russian Empire. Within this concept, the war makes total sense for Russia. So comparing it to British-Argentinian war is not proper, it's very different. It may be meaningless for the US, as a tiny Russian Empire - at least for now - changes little to the US for now - but it is very meaningful for both Russia and Ukraine.

Another important difference is that Britain could kick Argentinian ass very easily, whereas Russia has navigated itself into an existential war. I think on the balance Falklands war made more sense for the respective Empire.

On one hand, you are right, that Russia got in deeper than they planned to. On the other hand, I don't think Putin minds too much - the expenses of the war are quite tolerable so far, the final power consolidation, which otherwise may or may not have been smooth, went without a hitch, he got rid of pretty much all opposition and a lot on undesirables, and has a mandate to do pretty much anything he wants without any internal opposition. He can maintain it like this for many years. Maybe taking over Donbass will take another three years instead of original three days, who cares? These three days he is an unquestioned war leader, whose victorious army is conquering enemy lands. The economy has not collapsed, the people are not starving. No significant riots or disturbances. As Russian rulers go, it's not a bad showing at all. So I don't think they have a reason to see it as any problem right now.

I don't think the situations are comparable here. For Britain, beating up Argentina and keeping whatever they kept, nobody cares by now what it is anyway, was pointless and meaningless.

The Falkland Islands, and Argentina very much still cares.

OK, I stand corrected, nobody but Argentina (which I am sure prefers Malvinas) cares.

Indeed they do prefer Malvinas. I suppose the 3700 people on the Falklands care too, though the half-million sheep and million penguins likely do not.