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Poland must be “reminded” its western territories were “gift from Stalin”, says Putin
Lukashenko claims Poland is trying to annex Ukraine, Wagner troops want to invade
Just a reminder where Putin's eyes are looking at when/if he's done with Ukraine. We've been through this scenario before, where Putin prepared the invasion of Ukraine for 8 years, absolutely in public, never hiding his intentions, always claiming Ukraine is a fake state, ruled by illegitimate regime and must be liberated - and yet everybody was so surprised when the invasion actually happened. And yet, lots of people are lecturing me all the time about how Putin didn't actually want to do any of that and was forced to do it by "Western meddling". I don't expect many people to change any of their conclusions from this round of saber-rattling, and I don't also expect Putin to invade Poland tomorrow (or this year, or anytime before Ukraine situation has resolved one way or another), but the time may come to be oh so surprised again, because literally nothing pointed to this next move by Putin. And I am sure if that happen, the "meddling" will be blamed again. I certainly don't want to see this happening, but as things are going now, I am afraid I might.
Sure Putin would want Poland. But I think it’s beyond clear that Poland couldn’t be conquored by Russia. If the west suddenly went full pacifists then at most Russia could pick off like some Estonia and Baltics.
Whole Poland? Probably not, at least not in the near future. But some borderline territories, for starters? Say, the corridor leading to Königsberg, now known as Kaliningrad? Why not. Do you imagine President Ocasio-Cortez sending the best US troops into the harm's way to defend places with names like Szypliszki and Stańczyki, which no CNN commentator could even pronounce - especially if it comes with the risk of global nuclear war? I think a lot of people would object to that.
If they're struggling against a basket case like Ukraine they definitely can't take on Poland. The US already has troops stationed there and I'm sure Poland would get at least as much equipment as we're sending Ukraine but probably much more. I don't think it would matter much who the president is, there would be overwhelming bipartisan support to intervene.
Also, NATO isn't just the US. Even if the USA ignores its treaty obligations because ASB, there's still Britain/France/Germany.
It's hard to see Germany lifting a finger to defend Poland without the US in the mix. The only country Poland has more bad blood with is Russia.
Even a few fighter jets would stop any Russian advance in it's tracks. I also can't understand how you think the NATO treaty isn't sacrosanct. It is the new religion of the West. Where once mighty Rome and then the Sacred Church stood, now NATO takes their place.
In a situation where the US wasn't honoring its treaty obligations, the NATO treaty clearly would not be sacrosanct.
And if my Grandmother had wheels she'd be a bicycle.
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