...not hat long ago that Britain was bragging about how it had basically ruined russsia both financially and militarily...
I don't think Britain ever 'bragged' about the ruinous position of Russia post the collapse of communism. If you believe otherwise, please offer some links to official statements or policy.
However, I would agree to an extent that the West missed an opportunity to encourage democracy and rules based behaviour during this period. That has certainly been a factor in the rise of Putin and Russian nationalism today. I've said previously and I'll say it again: I see direct comparisons with Versailles and the emergence of German National Socialism in the 20s and 30s.
...If those two spys [litvenenko] had been machine gunned in their living rooms watching Eastenders no one would care,...
I would entirely disagree with that; the murder by any means of an individual in the UK by foreign agents would incite public outrage.
Clear if unwritten rules concerning the behaviour of espionage personnel have long existed. In the case of Skripal, he had been released as part of an exchange of convicted spies which has previously assured a safe subsequent life.
...and the guy in sailsbury was still an active spy, he got what he could expect, unfortunately innocent people got caught up in the middle...
I find those pretty offensive comments.
Indeed, your suggestion the Skripal remained an active agent and dismissal of the consequences of Russia's use of CW on civilian streets suggests to me that you may not be quite as British as you claim.
...lets not pretend 1] those former soviet countries are worth a world war for or 2 that any other country other than America can be trusted if it actually started.
Again, that's a matter of opinion.
Perhaps Georgia wasn't; perhaps the Crimea wasn't; perhaps Russia's latest breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Kerch Straight isn't; likewise the slow, insidious encroachment at any environmental cost on the SCS by Beijing.
However, if history proves anything, it proves that aggressors and bullies need to be stood up to and internationally accepted rules defended. The Rhineland, Sudentenland and Czechoslovakia are good examples. Ultimately, the Black Sea is international waters bordered by more than just Russia, including the shores of 3 NATO nations. We - and any other nation - have every right to be there and that right needs to be both exercised and defended so that Russian arrogance and intimidation is not 'normalised.'
In summary, despite claims to the otherwise, I note subtle errors in your language and grammar, as well as some disturbing misrepresentation of facts which are increasingly familiar on ARRSE from the Russian troll community.
It would therefore be interesting to examine your IP address because I strongly suspect it could be traced directly or indirectly to St Petersburg.
Regards,
MM
Last edited: