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PaperclipPerfector  4d ago (text post)   16011 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of September 7, 2026

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That's unserious. Russia is already failing to take on Ukraine; I strongly doubt they'll pick a direct fight with the EU anytime soon; i.e., in this century.

It's happening the other way around, I think.

What way is that?

The EU leadership seems to be convinced that they can force a Russian capitulation by escalating the war.

Yes, that seems to be the ideological bit they have committed to. Regardless of whether that plays out as they imagine: Russia is not winning in any way that indicates that they could pick a fight with the EU and succeed in it.

The can't win, but they do likely have the capacity to ensure everyone loses.

Are you implying they'll roll into Estonia and threaten the US and NATO into submission with nukes?

Yes. I don't think that's a likely scenario. But if the premise of the hypothetical is "EU leadership escalates the war towards an outcome where Russia straight loses", then that is an option that Putin has available.

That's why I am much more concerned about escalating conflict with Russia than I was about Venezuela or Iran. Only one of them has a "global catastrophe" button.

Okay, but that possiblity is so remote and contingent on numerous unlikely turns that I wouldn't really take it into account in any current-day decisionmaking.

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