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PaperclipPerfector  4d ago (text post)   14892 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of May 18, 2026

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I often think thats what Russians actually really want to happen. Losing to Ukraine, even NATO supported, is embarrassing. Losing against NATO gives cover for cessation of hostilities. "NATO aggressors were checked at the border by our forces pulled from Ukraine but to preserve life like all Russians do we shall talk like gentlemen". Need to have a small victory (destroying a few finnish lakeside banyas should do the trick) and then rapid escalation of kinetic response to justify rapid retreat across the borders. "If mother russia mobilizes the loyal baltic subjects will surely rise up and rejoin the motherland but that is exactly what perfidious albion wants so we shall deny them their war and settle like gentlemen". Easy out, makes all the previous failures in Ukraine secondary to standing up to NATO.

I don't think that's what Putin - basically an unimaginative relative centrist authoritarian operating within the limits of a demented/apathetic political culture - wants or is ready for.

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